Empowering Early Literacy with Content and Resources for Young Learners

Children with Reading Difficulties – Reading Essentials #22

One of the most challenging conversations that parents and teachers can have involves the possibility that a child might have a reading or learning disability (RD/LD).  Parents might notice at home that a child struggles with reading, or with particular aspects of reading—phonics, for example. Or, a teacher might discover during an assessment that a child is reading at a lower level than expected. When a child is having difficulty learning, parents are understandably concerned and want to know exactly what is impairing their child’s learning. It’s important to understand, though, that the root causes of reading difficulties can be incredibly diverse, and they are not always related to learning disabilities!

By Tammy Bennecke, ago

Get Caught Reading… By Your Kids!

Did you know that May is Get Caught Reading Month? First launched in 1999, “Get Caught Reading” is a national campaign that reminds us how much fun it is to read!  Of course, we here at Red Apple Reading are huge advocates of the written word. So this month we want to join the campaign and encourage parents to pick up a book and Get Caught Reading by their children!

By Jennifer Campbell, ago

Mother’s Day: Every Mom Has a Story

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, our thoughts turn toward our little ones and all the blessings that come with being a mom. Whether you have one child or seven, you have special memories with each that will last a lifetime. At Red Apple Reading, we would like to suggest that this year you consider Mother’s Day in light of the theme of Story. After all, every mom (and child) has a story and each story is precious. Let’s look at a few ways you can make this special day revolve around stories!

By Jennifer Campbell, ago

Creative Ways to Study Spelling Words

Most early elementary school students have weekly spelling tests. As parents, it falls to us to help our kiddos prepare. Whether our kids are good spellers or struggling spellers, the studying process can be tedious. According to the article, “How Words Cast Their Spell”, written in the 2008-2009 edition of American Educator, “The correlation between spelling and reading comprehension is high because both depend on a common denominator: proficiency with language….The more deeply and thoroughly a student knows a word, the more likely he or she is to recognize it, spell it, define it, and use it appropriately in speech and writing.” So, spelling is a vital part of the education process. But don’t despair dear parent! With some creativity and an open mind, you and your child can have successful spelling study sessions!

By Jennifer Campbell, ago

Gifts for the Teachers in Your Life

Red Apple Reading know the difference a good teacher can make in the life of a child. Hopefully, as parents we all show appreciation for our kids’ teachers throughout the school year, but this week gives us the opportunity to thank them in an extra special way. Teaching is one of the hardest and most important jobs in our society. Since they work so hard for our little ones, let’s think about how we can show teachers some much deserved gratitude!

By Jennifer Campbell, ago

A Crisis of Confidence to Succeed – The Literacy Challenge Facing Boys

Guest Post by Michael Gurian
Literacy matters. Reading, writing, and speaking intersect with everything in life: character development, emotional intelligence, and physical fitness. Reading is essential for successful brain development in children, and stories help build character and emotional development. There are few career areas in which literacy skills—reading, writing, critical thinking, articulation of positions in words, and even anecdotal storytelling—are not essential for success. The Boy Scouts of America’s mission to help boys be “Prepared. For Life.®” is directly correlated with the need for literacy in America and precisely why the BSA incorporates literacy skills into so much of its program.

By Guest Post, ago

When Your Kid Doesn’t Want to Go to School

It is the rare child that wakes up every morning excited to attend school. Most of us have heard our kids say at one time or another, “I don’t want to go to school today!” Some infrequent, short-lived dislike of the school experience is normal, but what do you do when your child is suddenly and consistently upset about going to school? A few simple interventions could help you send your kid off with a smile on his face.

By Melissa Maypole, ago

Supporting Comprehension – Reading Essentials #21

In this final installment of our series detailing the 5 fundamental reading skills, we’ll be looking closely at comprehension—the ability to not only read words, but understand their individual meanings and their meanings within the context of a sentence and story. Reading comprehension is, perhaps, the pinnacle of all reading skills. After all, what’s the point of being able to read words if you don’t understand them, right?

By Tammy Bennecke, ago

Why Reading Fiction is Good for Kids

We can all remember the fun we had as kids pretending to live in another reality. I spent hours “teaching” imaginary students and playing with my stuffed animals. One day my mom was cleaning my room and put all my stuffed toys in the toy box. I was appalled! Didn’t she know they couldn’t breathe in there? Needless to say, I had a pretty active imagination. It’s good for our kids to have a healthy escape from reality as well. Fiction is the perfect opportunity for our children to take a little reality vacation!

By Melissa Maypole, ago