I’m a San Diego reading tutor. I’m so grateful for what I do. I never imagined I would be a reading tutor. Unexpectedly, I met the most inspiring professor of my life…. John Shefelbine Shefelbine was a tireless and devoted advocate for early systematic reading instruction. He was quick-witted and smart; he earned his Ph.D […]
Archives for November 2016
Moms of Struggling Readers Hear A Lot of Nonsense…
Moms of struggling readers have to wade through many voices. Everyone has an opinion on why a child can’t read. Explanations pour in from well-meaning friends, family members, teachers and the principle. WHY CAN’T MY CHILD READ? Friends offer advice based on what happened with their own child: “Aidan just learned how to read right […]
My Child Can’t Read Yet – Lisa’s Story
Lisa, a mom of a struggling reader, called at a busy time. I told her I had no room in my schedule for another student. “You’ll have to research other options,” I said. But she was persistent. SELF-ESTEEM AND READING DIFFICULTIES I received long text messages and frequent phone calls from Lisa. Her daughter, Emma, […]
Has Whole Language Failed California?
California’s history in K-2 reading instruction is a great drama worthy of an independent film movie script. The players are young idealists, policymakers blindly passing legislation and a grandmother, a woman who in her retirement, went on an obsessive campaign to help children learn how to read. California’s reading scores were once among the highest […]