Language & Learning Clinic, PLLC » Reading

Society for Neuroscience: Reading instruction regimens can improve the brain function

sblackley — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:46:24 +0000

"Reading problems, which are rampant in America, can greatly hinder a person’s life. Scientific research, however, is now providing insights on how to prevent the development of poor reading and all the problems that come with it. Some of the latest work cites evidence suggesting that certain reading instruction regimens can improve the brain function of those with reading woes, enabling them to read better….Read more….

What is dyslexia and how is it evaluated?

sblackley — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:54:04 +0000

Information from The International Dyslexia Association (IDA):

The Language & Learning Clinic, PLLC uses a component model for evaluating reading and written language, assessing the student's skills in each of these areas:

speech sound awareness and memory
knowledge of letter symbols and word parts and fluency of their use
accuracy and fluency of single word reading
vocabulary
listening comprehension
sentence processing
oral and written expression (including spelling, sentence formulation & conventions and discourse organization)

Overcoming Dyslexia (FORTUNE Magazine)

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:03:10 +0000

One was spanked by his teachers for bad grades and a poor attitude. He dropped out of school at 16. Another failed remedial English and came perilously close to flunking out of college. The third feared he'd never make it through school--and might not have without a tutor. The last finally learned to read in third grade, devouring Marvel comics, whose pictures provided clues to help him untangle the words.

If you have a child who is a struggling reader, your family is not alone.

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:32:24 +0000

Empowering Parents

If you have a child who is a struggling reader, your family is not alone. Learning to read is a challenge for almost 40 percent of kids, and an even bigger challenge for their parents.

Empowering Parents, a PBS special hosted by Al Roker, visits schools in Huntingtown, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon, to help families identify early signs of reading problems and find ideas for getting their kids the help and support they need to succeed at reading. [To view this video on your computer you'll need a high speed Internet connection.View the video}

Reading and the Brain

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:50:28 +0000

This Web-based video is about how brain scientists are working to solve the puzzle of why some children struggle to read and others don't. Startling new research shows the answer may lie in how a child's brain is wired from birth. This video demonstrates how effective interventions can change the brain. and help people overcome disorders like dyslexia and autism. To view this video on your computer you'll need a high speed Internet connection.View video

New Reading Curriculum for Students with Significant Disabilities

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:45:30 +0000

Don Johnston Incorporated, AbleNet and Dr. Karen Erickson, Center for Literacy and Disabilities Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, developed a 'first of its kind' reading curriculum to support students with moderate to severe/profound intellectual disabilities.

Dietary Supplements Aid Learning & Attention

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:38:23 +0000

Durham Local Educational Authority study suggests Omega-3 fatty acids have real benefits for a pupils with a range of specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD. read more

How Babies Acquire Building Blocks Of Speech Affects Later Reading, Language Ability

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:24:06 +0000

One of the scientists leading the effort to understand exactly how infants go about learning language told a White House Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development ….that the fundamental steps in language acquisition later play a critical role in the ability to read. (…..from Science Da ily. read more

How Do I Know of My Child Is Making Progress in Reading?

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:16:18 +0000

Reprinted from Perpectives, Winter 2006, The International Dyslexia Association

Beginning with the end in mind, I like to ask parents about their goals for their child. Most say that they want their child’ to love reading’,’ to be a reader’, and ‘to go to college’. Such responses suggest that parents’ goals typically go far beyond the goals of the typical public school. Naturally, schools have a more short-term, micro view of student goals than do parents. To track the child’s language-literacy growth, parents need to combine observations from home with information from the schools – and other helping professionals (reading teacher, psychologist, speech-language pathologist). Persistence is generally required, but the effort is usually worth it. read more

To Read with Speed, Get Hooked on Phonics….

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:11:39 +0000

Phonics skill contributed the largest component (62%) to reading speed

"In work that may one day narrow the gap between speedy, voracious readers and slower, disinterested ones, researchers at New York University (N.Y.U.) have determined that three different mechanisms are used to decode the words in a particular sentence.

The three processes: phonics (a letter by letter sounding out of words); contextual clues (earlier parts of sentences that help readers anticipate upcoming words); and holistic word recognition, or the physical shape of words." … from Scienticic American.com read more