Reading fluency and expanding vocabulary are the bridge from decoding to comprehension. Weaknesses in any of these building blocks will limit a child’s ability to read for meaning.
Tactile experiences combined with purposeful talking with children about new real-world exploration helps children learn new words.
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Having a vast and deep vocabulary affords precision and nuance in making meaning of the world, and this is key to children becoming proficient readers.
By the age of five, most children can name at least ten letters. In our study, 58.6% of children living with disadvantage could not name the expected number of alphabet letters.
A holistic approach to growing children’s vocabulary could mean reading children stories about bears from fairy tales, science books and the news.
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One way to help children learn the words they need to thrive academically is by reading aloud from books and news sources that use both narrative and expository writing.
Family members’ involvement in encouraging children’s reading and writing in everyday play and family life can make a difference to children’s literacy achievement.
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To “warm up” a book, use the K-W-L strategy: Talk with your child about what you both KNOW about the subject, what you WONDER and afterwards, what you’ve LEARNED.
Lack of access to quality reading instruction and early diagnoses and intervention of reading disorders can have significant, long-lasting effects.
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Early intervention with reading challenges has very high success rates for supporting reading development, but it is much more difficult to improve reading skills in older students.
Isn’t it weird that some words don’t rhyme that look like they should, like wood and food?
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Early experiences sharing and developing positive connections, language and communication set the stage for home reading to start children on the path to literacy.
Two adversarial approaches have dominated debates about teaching reading for decades.
Xolisa Guzula
Children in the early stages of learning to read should be given decodable books to practise and generalise their developing alphabetic skills.
As we look to improve the reading outcomes of our young children, more music education in our preschools and primary schools could be the answer.
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Many young children can give the false impression that they are learning to read, when in fact they are mostly guessing words from pictures or context. This test will help to identify these students.
Arial font was as effective as Dyslexie front when the spacing of letters and words were enlarged.
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A new font designed called ‘Dyslexie’ was labelled ‘a breakthrough’ by the media for reportedly being about to help increase the reading speed of those with dyslexia. But does it really work?
Family dinners can whet children’s appetites for reading.
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As school resumes for the new year, the “home reader” routine for primary school children also recommences. For many parents and children, reading these short texts can be the most agonising part of the…
Director, Center for Community Child Health Royal Children's Hospital; Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne; Theme Director Population Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary