Phonics

Kids who mispronounce vowels will misread and misspell simple words. Misspelling and misreading can become a stubborn, negative habit. So, intervene now and teach your kids how to say and spell vowel sounds correctly.

Why is sight word or whole word instruction the worst way to teach reading?

for millions of middle schoolers, the new year brings fear: fear of failing — again! For they are the "Covid Cohort," children of the pandemic, which, with the force of a thousand tornadoes, swept across our educational landscape and obliterated the foundations of literacy they should have received in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.

Covid caused many kids to miss the crucial, foundational kindergarten and first grade years. If Covid cheated your child out of the type of literacy that all kids need to read and succeed, learn more about our Covid catch up classes.

There are many ways to spell the long vowel /u/. Watch my video to learn more.

There are many ways to spell the long vowel /O/. Watch my video to learn more.

There are many ways to spell the long vowel /i/. Watch my video to learn more.

There are many ways to spell the long vowel /A/. Watch my YouTube video to learn how to get your kids to remember these spellings by chanting them.

The phonogram "ough" can be used to spell several different sounds. We can help students remember these sounds by using them as rhyming words in sentences.

Homework is fun because we turn dull, boring assignments into homework-outs  at TAG The Academic Gym.

Soon, he was able to recall each long vowel spelling without looking at any written prompts. This combination of rhythmic athletic movements and orthographic chanting had already embedded the sounds and spellings in his head. As soon as he began to sing and move, he accessed that memory groove. Rhythm helps kids remember.

So, if we want our children to succeed, we must teach them to read intentionally, intensively, and proactively, because the brain begins building the foundations for reading from birth. Literacy begins in the cradle, not kindergarten.

Have you wondered why some kids have a difficult time remembering the phonics lessons you just taught them? Phonics (or teaching kids how to match letter-symbols to sounds) does not work effectively unless children already have a mental dictionary of sounds and spellings in their heads. When children have mental phonological (sound) and orthographic (spelling) files embedded in their brains, it's much easier for them to map letters to sounds.

Did you know that reading difficulties are often inherited? If you had trouble learning to read due to traits of ADHD or dyslexia, chances are that your children will also struggle with reading.

Analytical spelling helps children to develop the following skills: Children learn to focus and listen intently because the words are being pronounced. So analytical spelling enhances focus and listening skills. Intensive auditory training is essential to help children overcome reading difficulties and disorders such as dyslexia. Kids diagnosed with dyslexia should learn to spell well so that they can read well.

Between kindergarten and second grade, your child is developing the foundational skills that will shape their reading future. But sometimes, subtle signs can signal that they’re falling behind—and early intervention can make all the difference. If your child is struggling to read, here are some signs to watch for:

What is systematic phonics?