Slow down. Wait and give time to process.

​Allow them to have ample time to process, to understand the concept of the words and how they join together to form new meanings.

PICTURE THEM

Illustrations
help to bring understanding to abstract words.
It also supports visual imagery to strengthen ideas.

Learning language can be Stressful!

Learn with a favourite toy or character whom the child can relate and feel joy learning together.

HOW DOES THE BRAIN READ?

Reading is a complex process. It requires different areas of the brain to be activated in a coordinated and synchronised way.


Reading requires a few more steps...
What are the skills needed before learning to READ.
There are many skills we overlook as our brain automatically processes these skills altogether at the same time. It is time to look in detail to know what they are.
  • Provide adequate learning steps to gain these skills before reading!
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​Some individuals process every step, individually.
​So with understanding, we know they just need more time to process and strategies to cope with these challenges.

  • MATCHING - association of letter to sound, etc.
  • DIRECTIONALITY​ - left to right, top down, sequencing.
  • SEQUENCING - page to page continuous story flow
  • FLIPPING OF PAGES - left to right
  • START AND END concept
  • RELATABILITY - to new things introduced
  • VISUAL-SPATIAL - some individuals have challenges affecting reading. Skipping words & lines, informational overload, etc.
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Picture
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6 Essential Reading Skills
Kids must master a number of key skills to fully understand what they’re reading.

1. Decoding
2. Fluency
3. Vocabulary
4. Sentence Construction and Cohesion
5. Reasoning and Background Knowledge
6. Working Memory and Attention

What is Phonological Awareness
Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and work with sounds in spoken language.
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  • Some have difficulty noticing sound repetition or alliteration
  • Some have difficulty blending sounds
What is Decoding
Decoding involves sounding out words and blending the sounds together.

  • Some tries to guess what a word is based on the first sound or two.
  • Some have trouble understanding or remembering what she reads because it takes so much time and effort to figure out each word.

Important to Note
  • When a young child begins to feel fear when seeing books, we must try to see it through their eyes.​ Try to not pre-judge and assume, focus on making them feel appreciated for every step.
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  • If a child struggles to read smoothly, it can mean they may have hidden challenges mentioned above. Please go to Visual Processing page to understand visual challenges that can affect reading as well.
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  • The other important thing to note is, we tend to exert a power that can secretly affect the learner. All parents and educators tend to exert a demanding hidden expectation on the child, instead of enjoying reading. This can reflect in the tone of our voice, our facial expression, that can cause the child to refuse to try. If they face criticism they will give up even further, and self-esteem will get hit.​

  • Always join in the read, make it an enjoyable activity, remove the mechanical demands and just allow the child to develop curiosity for new stories, and excitement for them as well. Empowering them allows them to develop intrinsic motivation and a love for reading.​


​STRATEGIES & TIPS

7 Ways to Improve Vocabulary Using Visual Support
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Multisensory instruction is a way of teaching that engages more than one sense at a time. For kids with reading issues like dyslexia, the use of sight, hearing, movement and touch can be helpful for learning. 

8 Useful Multisensory Techniques for Reading
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TARGET THE PROBLEM! - TOOL FOR PARENTS & EDUCATORS TO IDENTIFY ISSUES