Imagine your child waking up excited about the day ahead, not because of screens or sugary breakfast, but because they know a special story awaits them. Morning reading time creates this magical anticipation while building literacy skills when young minds are fresh and ready to learn. Why Morning Reading Works Magic Morning reading harnesses your […]
Bedtime reading creates magical moments that children treasure for years. These quiet minutes together not only strengthen your bond but also build essential literacy skills while helping your child wind down for sleep. Why Bedtime Reading Matters Bedtime reading routines provide consistent exposure to language, vocabulary, and story structures that support literacy development. During these […]
Your child comes home with reading test scores, and you stare at confusing numbers and letters, wondering what they actually mean. Is your child succeeding or struggling? These benchmark tests provide valuable information, but only when you understand how to interpret them correctly. What Are Reading Benchmark Tests Reading benchmark tests measure your child’s literacy […]
Your four-year-old writes their name but flips the ‘R’ backward. Your kindergartner confuses ‘b’ and ‘d’ when reading. These letter reversals worry many parents, but they’re actually a normal part of early literacy development for most children. Understanding why reversals happen and when they’re typical versus concerning gives you the tools to support your child’s […]
When your child struggles with reading, you wonder: Is this temporary or something more? Understanding the difference between reading delays and disabilities helps you get the right support for your child. Understanding Reading Delays Reading delays happen when children learn literacy skills more slowly than their peers but still follow normal patterns. These kids catch […]
Nothing panics a parent quite like watching their child struggle with skills they seemed to master just weeks before. One day, your preschooler confidently identifies the letter ‘B,’ and the next day, they stare at it blankly. This frustrating phenomenon, known as reading regression, is more common than you might think and is usually not […]
Summer break brings excitement for families, but it can also bring hidden learning challenges. While your preschooler enjoys longer days and outdoor adventures, their developing reading skills may be quietly slipping away without consistent practice and exposure to books. What Is Summer Reading Loss Summer reading loss, often called the “summer slide,” refers to the […]
When your child sits beside you, carefully following each word across the page with their finger, they’re doing much more than just pointing. Finger tracking is one of the most powerful yet underused tools in early reading instruction. While it might look simple, this technique actually builds the neural pathways that transform struggling readers into […]
You’ve probably seen them in your child’s homework folder—those simple boxes drawn under words that look almost too basic to be helpful. But don’t let their simplicity fool you! Elkonin boxes are one of the most powerful tools for helping children understand how sounds work in words. Named after Russian psychologist D.B. Elkonin, these little […]
Watch your child carefully sound out each letter: “C… A… T.” They know all the sounds perfectly, but when you ask them what word they just read, they look at you with confusion. Sound familiar? This is where blending skills come in—the magical ability to smoosh individual sounds together into recognizable words. It’s the moment […]
