As parents, we often celebrate when our children show early signs of reading. After all, isn’t early reading a sign of academic success? While early reading can indeed be a positive milestone, sometimes it might signal a condition called hyperlexia—where exceptional word-reading abilities don’t match up with comprehension skills. If you’re wondering about your child’s […]
Walk into any classroom, and you’ll see it immediately: every student is unique. Some are racing through their books, others are carefully sounding out each word, and a few might be struggling to get started. As teachers, we’re tasked with helping each of these learners succeed, and that’s where differentiated reading instruction becomes our most […]
Understanding root words isn’t just another reading strategy—it’s a fundamental approach that unlocks thousands of new words for developing readers. As we explore the science behind root word instruction, you’ll discover why this method is so powerful for building strong readers. The Power of Root Words in Reading Reading theories show us that explicit vocabulary […]
During the holidays, life is filled with traditions, joy, excitement, and lots of gifts. If you have kids, one of the best gifts you can give is the opportunity for your little ones to develop a love of reading. Holiday books can be an entertaining and inspiring way to bring people together and spread the […]
The timeline of literacy development varies from child to child. From what science now knows about reading, however, there are some general milestones that most children follow as they gradually learn to read. For example, children typically begin to identify words that rhyme and recognize some familiar words by the age of 5. In first […]
Did you know that the foundation for learning to read is understanding speech sounds? While letters and words are seen with our eyes, when learning to read the brain facilitates a process that correlates with spoken language. This is why it’s so important for children to sound things out when they’re learning to read. In […]
As parents, we all want our children to become confident, skilled readers. To do this, they not only need to practice but must also have strong foundational skills that support their current reading abilities, as well as their long-term academic journey. When choosing books for your early reader, one previously popular approach has been “reading […]
How do you know what books to give your child as they start learning how to read? While previous generations grew up browsing through Scholastic book catalogs and “leveled readers,” educational science now shows there are more effective reading materials to give beginner readers. One of the go-to options today is decodable books. In this […]
Before children learn to read, they need to master letter sounds. Early readers are not yet ready to smoothly and fluently read the words on a page—instead, they must identify one alphabetical letter at a time, sound out each letter in each word, and then blend those sounds to form the word. This takes a […]
Wide-eyed and curious, your child is beginning the first phase of reading instruction. Early reading skills set the foundation for literacy development and lifelong learning, which is why this phase of development is so fascinating and crucial for kids. But with so many learning apps, online lessons, and educational programs available today, how can you […]
