OUR FAQS
In this section, we have compiled some of the frequently asked questions that we’ve received from parents over the years. If there is something in relation to your child's math and reading skills you would like answered, please reach out to us.
My child is having trouble identifying sight words. What can I do to help?
There are many ways to help your child develop his reading skills. Sight words can be practiced
using flashcards, which you can easily make at home using index cards. Use pictures, symbols
and colors to help reinforce the word.
Adding fun activities like writing the words in shaving cream, in the sand, on a chalkboard, or
using magnetic letters may be motivating for your young learner, and is a good way to help him
feel the shape of the word.
Also, point to words in stories you are reading. Stop on a familiar sight word (like: the, that, this,
and) so your child can fill in the word.
My second grader is having a hard time focusing on one word at a time when reading. What can I do to help her?
Beginning readers need lots of practice reading – it takes time, practice, time, and more
practice! Work with your daughter's teacher to learn exactly at what level she is reading. Then,
go to the library and load up on books written at that level AND below. Provide her with time
each day to read, reread, and reread again those below reading level books. You'll want to build
up her confidence and fluency with those books. Then, support her reading by reading WITH her
the books at her instructional level. Prompt her to sound out words that can be sounded out (and
just tell her the ones that can't or are too tricky). Praise her efforts and reread each book
multiple times over the course of a week or two. Finally, get some terrific children's literature
written ABOVE her reading level. Read those books to her to remind her WHY reading is so great.
Model lots of good expression and let her hear what good, fluent reading sounds like.
How can I help my son practice blending sounds as he reads?
You can do a lot to help your child practice. One way is to use modeling to introduce these skills.
As you read to your child, sound out some of the words before you say them completely. Also,
you can make a game to practice blending. Give your child a picture (e.g. a cat) and have him
sound out the name while placing marbles, drawing marks, or tapping their fingers for each of
the individual sounds in the word (e.g., /c/.../a/.../t/ is composed of 3 sounds, thus the child
would use 3 marbles, marks, or taps.) You can also practice counting syllables by clapping or
using your fingers to tap out the number of different sounds, or phonemes, in a word.
What types of books should I have available for my young reader? Do you have any specific book recommendations?
To keep your child engaged with reading, you should keep a wide variety of books on hand, and
make sure to include books on topics that interest him. In your book collection, keep books that
your child currently enjoys so he can read them over and over again (repeat readings are great –
they help kids feel comfortable with the story and begin "reading" it along with you!). You should
also add new books regularly, and make them a little more advanced than his current collection.
He will let you know probably through a lack of interest when a book is too difficult. Picture
books are good because they allow you to point out words and help him begin to recognize
letters and their associated sounds. Pictures also give clues to the story for young children who
are just grappling with language learning, but if he can follow the plot of a book without pictures,
that's wonderful! The important thing is to go at his pace, but maintain a rich and varied literary
environment.
Why can't my child re-read a word in a sentence that she just sounded out?
This may happen because she is concentrating so hard on the decoding (sounding out), that she
is unable to remember and comprehend the full sentence. This is a good indication that the
books she is reading are too challenging for her at this time.
The next time you and your child choose books, you may want to ask her teacher, a librarian, or
a reading specialist to help you find "just right" books for your child. These should be books that
your child is interested in and that she can read with about 95% accuracy the first time. Ask her
to read a page or two aloud while you silently count the errors from the total numbers of words
on the pages she reads. This will give you an estimate of her accuracy.
By reading "just right" books, your daughter will practice all aspects of reading, including fluency
and comprehension. And comprehension, ultimately, is the goal of reading! As she reads "just
right" books, her ability to decode words will become even more automatic. As she gains
proficiency, the text will become more meaningful because she will be able to understand and
enjoy what she is reading.
If a child is reading aloud and is maintaining meaning, is it necessary that I correct every word
he misreads?
The answer to this question depends on the context in which the child is reading. If he is reading
in front of a group, or for pleasure, or for the purpose of appreciating literature, then you should
NOT correct every mistake. During these activities, students are developing a love of reading,
and as long as the meaning is preserved, they should be free to experience the "flow" of a good
story.
In an instructional context, you may want to gently correct accuracy mistakes, but try to limit
this to activities in which the main instructional goal is accuracy. You can build activities into
your curriculum that focus on this specific skill.
Giving students the opportunity to read without the pressure of perfect accuracy will invite
children to read more – and that is how they will improve!
