The Facts About Reading
The Reading Process
Reading IS a complex series of steps requiring the brain to see the printed code, process the information (sounds, symbols, vocabulary, & connected text), & respond to the received information
Reading IS putting meaning to a code
Reading IS NOT word calling
Reading Disabilities
An unexpected difficulty in reading in children & adults who otherwise possess the intelligence, motivation, & education necessary for developing accurate & fluent reading
It is frequently genetic
It crosses all cultures
Symptoms of Reading Disabilities: Pre-School Years
Trouble learning common nursery rhymes, such as "Jack and Jill"
Difficulty learning (and remembering) the names of letters in the alphabet
Seems to be unable to recognize letters in his/her own name
Mispronounces familiar words; persistent "baby talk"
Doesn’t recognize rhyming patterns like cat, bat, rat
Symptoms of Reading Disabilities: Kindergarten & First Grade
Reading errors that show no connection to the sounds of the letters on the page—will say "puppy" instead of the written word "dog" in an illustrated page with a dog shown
Does not understand that words come apart
Complains about how hard reading is, or "disappearing" when it is time to read
Symptoms of Reading Disabilities: Second Grade & Up
Very slow in acquiring reading skills. Reading is slow and awkward
Trouble reading unfamiliar words, often making wild guesses because he cannot sound out the word
Doesn’t seem to have a strategy for reading new words
Avoids reading out loud
How to Support a Reading Disability at Home (Reading Readiness)
Speak directly to your child
Speak slowly and clearly, pronouncing each sound very carefully (you want him to notice each word or word part you say)
Read to your child daily
Play rhyming games
Example: have him pick objects that rhyme with a common word—selecting a shoe for a word that rhymes with "two"
Use concrete objects (blocks or coins) to represent the sounds in words
Example: your child should indicate how many sounds he hears in a word by the number of coins (or blocks) he places on the table.
How to Support a Reading Disability at Home (Readers)
Encourage your child to visualize the story when they read
Use descriptive language when having a discussion
Use idioms/figurative language in your everyday conversations
When your child is struggling with a word, have them break up the word into syllables.
