Learning to Read or Reading to Learn
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Learning to Read or Reading to Learn

In the world of early literacy education, there has long been a prevailing myth that young readers should start by learning to read and later transition to reading to learn. For decades, theories of children’s phases of reading acquisition oversimplified the process. So, the “learning to read” then “reading to learn” made sense. However, the…

The Phases of Reading Fluency: A Guide for Educators and Parents
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The Phases of Reading Fluency: A Guide for Educators and Parents

Introduction As educators and parents, we share the common goal of helping young learners become proficient readers. Reading fluency is the ability to read accurately, smoothly, and with understanding. It is a crucial milestone in a child’s reading journey. You might be surprised at the many layers and foundational skills that are required of readers…

Orton Gillingham Lesson-Part 2
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Orton Gillingham Lesson-Part 2

In the first part of an Orton Gillingham lesson we practice phonemic awareness, blending, and letter-sound correspondence. After that, it is crucial that students review and reinforce previously learned skills.  The student must also learn new information and practice this new skill in their reading and writing. Concepts taught and reviewed cover ALL strands of…

Structured Literacy Instruction
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Structured Literacy Instruction

Structured literacy is getting a lot of well-deserved attention. Researchers in the areas of reading, psychology, speech and language pathology, neuroscience, and education all agree. Although there may be more than one way to TEACH reading, there is only one way that the human brain LEARNS to read. The majority of students learn to read…

Decodable Books- What are they and why should we use them?
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Decodable Books- What are they and why should we use them?

The debate is over. Reading words by attending to all of the letter-sound correspondences is how our brain learns to read efficiently. This is not new science, nor is it a pendulum. This is over 40 years of research. The science tells us that students need to focus on the letter-sound correspondences (word reading) to…