Understanding What IEP Goals Should Actually Accomplish When you sit down at that IEP meeting table, surrounded by specialists with clipboards and charts, it’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to just nod and sign. But here’s what nobody tells you: the goals written into that document will shape your child’s entire school year. They’ll […]
Understanding How the Brain Learns to Read Reading is not a natural human ability. Unlike speaking, which develops through exposure, reading must be explicitly taught. The brain creates reading pathways by connecting visual symbols (letters) to sounds (phonemes). For students developing reading skills through different pathways, this connection requires more explicit, systematic instruction. The good […]
Understanding Why Classroom Support Matters When a child is developing reading skills differently from their peers, the classroom can feel like an obstacle course. Every lesson that relies heavily on written text becomes an opportunity for frustration rather than learning. The good news is that with the right accommodations, teachers can transform this experience entirely. […]
Why Collaboration Between Teachers and Reading Specialists Matters When a child is developing reading skills differently, the partnership between classroom teachers and reading specialists becomes the most powerful force for change. This isn’t about handing off responsibility to an “expert.” It’s about creating a unified approach where everyone reinforces the same strategies and speaks the […]
Understanding Response to Intervention for Reading Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered framework designed to identify and support students who are developing reading skills at a different pace. Rather than waiting for children to fall far enough behind for a formal diagnosis, RTI provides early intervention through increasingly intensive instruction based on each student’s […]
Understanding the Parent Experience When a parent walks into your classroom with concerns about their child’s reading development, they’re often carrying months—sometimes years—of quiet worry. They’ve watched their child work harder than classmates for smaller gains. They’ve heard “give it time” from well-meaning family members while their gut tells them something different. These parents aren’t […]
Understanding Early Identification in the Classroom Teachers are often the first to notice when a child’s reading development takes a different path. You see it in the hesitation before reading aloud, the creative avoidance strategies, and the bright eyes that dim when books come out. The good news? Your classroom observations are valuable for early […]
Understanding What You’re Seeing in the Classroom You’ve noticed something in one of your students. Maybe they work twice as hard as their classmates but still struggle to decode simple words. Perhaps they avoid reading aloud or become frustrated during literacy activities. These observations matter, and your instincts as an educator are valuable. What you’re […]
Recognizing the Early Warning Signs in Your Classroom As a teacher, you’re in a unique position to spot the early indicators that a student may benefit from a reading assessment. These signs often appear well before formal testing would typically be recommended by school systems. Students who are building reading skills differently often show patterns […]
Understanding What You’re Observing in the Classroom When a student avoids reading tasks and responds with frustration, it’s easy to wonder if laziness is the cause. But you’re often seeing something different: a child whose brain works overtime just to process what comes easily to others. Reading avoidance paired with emotional responses is a common […]
