Literacy and Dyslexia Specialist Teacher & SpLD Assessor, School SENCo and ADHD Specialist
When it comes to teaching children with dyslexia how to read, two primary approaches often come into the spotlight: phonics and whole word reading. Each has its benefits, but which one is best for dyslexic learners? And when should a strategy be changed if it’s not working? Understanding Phonics and Whole Word Reading Phonics is a... Continue Reading →
Syllables are one of the foundational building blocks of language and literacy. They are the sounds or beats that make up words, and understanding how they work is essential for young children as they develop their reading and speaking abilities. In this blog post, we'll explore what syllables are, how to separate them using mouth... Continue Reading →
Repeated reading is an academic reading intervention that aims to increase oral reading fluency. Repeated reading can be used with students who have developed initial word reading skills but demonstrate lower than expected reading fluency for their grade level. Repeated reading is the practice of having a student read the same text over and over until their... Continue Reading →
The term “punctuation” refers to the marks used in writing to separate sentences and their elements, and to clarify the meaning of sentences. Punctuation marks give us cues that help us know how to say what we’re reading out loud, and they make written and printed text – like books and magazines – come alive... Continue Reading →
Metacognition is the way we understand or think about our own thought processes. This mode of self-aware thinking goes beyond experiences and emotions to investigate how we think about situations and why. With that new awareness, we can reframe our thinking to adapt to new situations and emotions. Metacognition in the Classroom In the classroom, metacognitive skills allow students to... Continue Reading →
What is a syllable? The dictionary definition for a syllable is: “a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, forming the whole or a part of a word.” You can also think of syllables as single, unbroken sounds of a spoken word. Sometimes syllables are referred to as the “beats”... Continue Reading →
What is a Schwa Sound? Not only is it fun to say, schwa is actually derived from Hebrew. Schwa refers to the most common vowel sound in the English language. Schwa is the sound a vowel makes in an unstressed syllable and is represented by the phonetic symbol /Ə/ (like an upside-down, reversed e). Not... Continue Reading →
WHAT DO WE TEACH IN STRUCTURED LITERACY? We know that phonics instruction is critical to supporting all students including those with dyslexia and other reading disabilities but the problem is - it’s NOT ENOUGH. Latest research shows that we are missing the mark on language development and the role that syntax, vocabulary, morphology and comprehension... Continue Reading →
Adapted Learning 