Building Phonemic Awareness
When we think of teaching a child to read, most parents and many teachers probably think of letter activities, flash cards, and lots of books. Yet, the first step in a child’s journey to becoming a reader begins with sounds not letters. Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, differentiate, and manipulate sounds in words. […]
The Science of Letter Reversals (and How to Fix Them)
One of the hallmark signs of a student with dyslexia is letter reversals. Some common letter reversals are lowercase b and d, m and w, and p and q. It’s true that this is a common obstacle for students with dyslexia. However, not all students with dyslexia reverse letters and not all students who reverse […]
The Developmental Stages of a Young Writer
All young learners go through stages of writing development. As their reading skills emerge, they begin to acquire related skills in writing. These stages may look slightly different depending on the approach to writing instruction that is being used. Not all students go through each stage at the same time or pace, but all writers […]
Syllable Types and Why They Matter
Are you a passionate educator who loves helping kids understand syllable types? Join our team and become a Braintrust tutor today! An important component of any structured literacy program is teaching kids about the different types of syllable. This comes as a surprise to some. Why do students need to know something as specific as […]
Strategies for Engaging Kids Who Struggle with Attention
For many students, focusing in school takes real effort. For students with ADHD, it’s sometimes an almost insurmountable obstacle. Now, with so many students learning from home either full-time or part-time, and with all other students working at least six feet apart from their teachers, sustaining focus and engagement on school tasks is harder than […]
The Silver Linings of an ADHD Diagnosis
Although it is not at all uncommon, an ADHD diagnosis still comes with a bit of stigma. Many people associate ADHD with challenging behavior, lack of self-control, and inability to complete tasks. But ADHD can bring with it a host of unique advantages for those who are willing to embrace the good, learn how to […]
Parenting Like a Pro
From the moment that our first child enters the world, life as we know it is never the same. And as much as we love and adore our kids, they can also be totally and completely overwhelming! From the extreme highs to the very frustrating lows, parenting is a rollercoaster of experiences and emotions that […]
Getting Organized with ADHD
Organization is one of the most common struggles that people with ADHD face on a day-to-day basis. It takes tremendous executive function power to organize both physical materials and information in our heads. People with ADHD struggle with their executive functions, making organization extremely difficult without specific tools to help guide them. LEARN MORE ABOUT […]
What is Response to Intervention (RTI)?
In any classroom, you’ll find a wide range of abilities, learning styles, and academic needs. Gone are the days of the “one size fits all” approach to teaching. Teachers begin the school year by planning assessments to get a sense of each students’ unique strengths and abilities. Some of these assessments are formal, some informal. […]
Phonics Terms and Lingo Defined
Finding your way around the world of phonics jargon can be intimidating. And it can feel daunting for any parent to try to support their child with reading when they don’t know the terminology to use! Here are the most important phonics words and phrases and what they mean in layman’s terms. While this list […]
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