Understand the Importance of Systematic PHONICS instruction!September 2010
Some people advise children learning to read to guess at words based upon such things as its shape, length or the "context" of the story. THESE ARE POOR STRATEGIES THAT ONLY CONFUSE NEW READERS.
Clear scientific evidence from studies similar to those used to approve new medicines demonstrates that PHONICS instruction is critical for new readers to learn to read well. Early phonics instruction leads to accurate automaticity in reading words later in school.
Particularly for struggling readers, phonics instruction needs to be complete and systematic. Most of us know only a couple of phonics rules we learned in school, but in fact nearly the entire English language can be learned well through systematic phonics. There are many such programs. Reading Success LLC uses the Barton Reading Method. You can learn more about systematic phonics on their web site.
Have your child listen to AUDIO books on tapes, CD or the computer!
August 2010
It is very important that your child's language development continue even while he or she is still struggling to read.
One very helpful tool are age appropriate audiobooks, available at Amazon.com and many other places. Your child can listen to an experienced reader read with fluency, learn about such language arts elements as characters and plot, all while keeping up and "reading" the very same books as typical readers of his or her age.
Free audiobooks can be available from Recording For the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D). Many public libraries also have audiobooks. Your child will probably find favorite books and listen to them again and again. And your child's intellectual development will have a better chance to continue on track!
For information on RFB&D, you can choose the link on our menu to your left.
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Ask About "DIBELS"
In Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) elementary schools, teachers track the progress of students using a set of quick tests developed at the University of Oregon called the “Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills” or DIBELS.
While the name sounds funny, this tool is actually very good at tracking the age-specific skills that are required for a student to learn to read effectively.
If you have a concern about your child’s reading development, you should ask your child’s teacher to review your child’s DIBELS results with you.
You can learn more about DIBELS by using the link in our menu to the left!
If you have other questions about your child’s reading development, feel free to contact Judy Davis at Judy@helpmychildread.com!
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