It is books that are the key to the wide world; if you can’t do anything else, read all that you can. —Jane Hamilton
Reading is essential for a child’s success. All too often, the barriers faced by children with difficulty reading outweigh their desire to read and, without proper guidance, they never overcome them.
Of all the skills children learn, reading is arguably , the most important. It is a means of gaining knowledge about many different subjects and of understanding the world. Today, especially in the developed world, it is considered a fundamental skill required for success. U fortunately, for many children with reading disabilities, learning to read is one of the most arduous and frustrating activities they will ever face. All too often, the barriers they face outweigh their desire to read and, without proper guidance, they never overcome them.
Learn about the importance of reading, processes our brain must undergo in order to read, signs to watch for and reading and literacy strategies to help combat reading disabilities.
Some of the following suggestions and strategies may help children who are experiencing problems with decoding, comprehension, or reading retention. Many of those listed are accommodations that work around a child’s differences by offering alternative approaches at home and at school. Look for those you think might work best and , when applicable, talk to your child’s teacher about using some of them in class.
Play Word Games – Word games are fun and build vocabulary and word understanding. Examples are crossword puzzles, Scrabble and word bingo.
Read Aloud Every Day– Encourage children to read directions, labels, and signs in the classroom and at home, in the car and at stores and shops. Take turns reading aloud at school and at home.
Model Reading As An Enjoyable Activity– Informally discuss what you are reading with your child or let him see family members and teachers enjoying reading. Have DEAR time several time a week where everyone “Drops Everything And Reads” for 20 minutes.
Listen To Books- Your child might benefit from listening to his or her textbooks and trade books on tape or by using assistive technologies like screen readers.
Read To Your Child Every Night– Read novels above his or her reading level to stimulate and enrich language, creativity and interest. Ask structured questions and encourage your child to predict multiple endings to each chapter.
Engage Children’s Senses While Learning- Children with learning disabilities learn best when they use many of their senses to get information. Multi sensory instruction allows the child to see, hear, touch and act out words. For example, to learn letters children may read the printed letter, say the letter name, shape the letter out of clay, trace the letter onto paper, and form their bodies into the shape of the letter.
The following medical and educational facts emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing a reading problem early on, when a child still has the opportunity to maximize the development of fundamental skills like decoding and further underscore the importance of early intervention.
- Roughly 85% of children diagnosed with learning difficulties have a primary problem with reading and related language skills.
- Most reading disabilities are neuro-developmental in nature.
- Neuro-developmental problems don’t go away but they can be managed.
- Most children with reading disabilities can become proficient readers and can learn strategies for success in school.
- When a child’s reading disability is identified early, that child is more likely to learn strategies that will raise his or her reading to grade level.
One of the greatest gifts a parent can give to their child is to make sure they are learning to read .
