I’m very excited to announce the release of my printable phonics books and my new site ReadingElephant.com Reading Elephant This is part one of a two-part post describing why I decided to name my …
My Child Reverses Letters. Is he Dyslexic?
Letter Reversals are common. Every child, at some point, reverses letters. Beginning readers reverse letters often in both reading and spelling, saying “d” for “b” or writing a backwards “p.” Letter …
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The Story of a Grateful Reading Tutor
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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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Phonics & The Educational Neuroscience
Many researchers have compared whole language and phonics. One of the most striking experiments was done by Bruce McCandliss, a professor of Education at Stanford University. McCandliss is part of an …
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Best Practices in Teaching Reading & The Reading Research
What are the best practices in teaching reading? Now we can peer inside the reading brain and see that all of us mortals must process a word phonologically before accessing meaning. Furthermore, …
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Systematic Phonics & The Brain Science
Expert readers decode and make meaning so effortlessly they may be fooled to believe reading is natural. Research in both education and neuroscience show unequivocally that reading is not natural, …
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Best Read Aloud Children’s Book – Edward the Emu
EDWARD THE EMU BY SHEENA KNOWLES If you’re having a bad day, it might lift your spirits to think,” At least I’m not an emu.” These strange-looking creatures are flightless birds that reside in …
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