What are Phonemes and Graphemes?
Are you a passionate educator who loves helping kids understand phonemes and graphemes? Join our team and become a Braintrust tutor today! Understanding Phonemes and Graphemes Any lower Elementary school teacher knows that teaching reading is a complicated science. It is filled with terminology (for the teachers to know, not necessarily the students) and procedures […]
The Many Jobs of Silent ‘e’
One of the first phonics rules students learn in Kindergarten is the job of “silent e” or “magic e.” Most of us know or remember this rule as applying to words that end in a “vowel-consonant-e” pattern. The ‘e’ at the end of the word makes the vowel before it long (so ‘cap’ becomes ‘cape’ […]
Using Syllabication to Decode
Some students learn how to read somewhat effortlessly, with no need for explicit instruction or strategies. They just “get it.” But many don’t. And all too often, reading instruction in classrooms assumes students will learn to read largely on their own. There may be a smattering of phonics and/or decoding work here and there. But […]
How Kids Learn How to Read
As children learn to read, the world around them takes on a whole new dimension; signs become meaningful, directions become clearer, and stories and books offer an entirely new world of fantasy, adventure, and discovery. While your child will receive great instruction in school, there are fun, simple ways to reinforce those lessons at home […]
Orton-Gillingham and the Science of Reading
Put simply, Orton-Gillingham is the best approach to teach literacy. While it is effective and beneficial for all students who are struggling to learn to read and write, it is essential for any child with dyslexia. That is because any Orton-Gillingham program includes direct, explicit, systematic, multi-sensory lessons that reinforce sound-symbol relationships – the foundation […]
What is Orthographic Mapping?
Are you a passionate educator? Join our team and become a Braintrust tutor today! Orthographic mapping is the process by which students learn to connect sounds in words that they already know to the spelling of those words in order to make them more instantly recognizable. Students begin to use orthographic mapping only after they […]
What is Structured Literacy?
Structured literacy is an approach to teaching reading that focuses on the explicit instruction of language mechanics. Research shows that this approach significantly helps students with Dyslexia, but is also an effective approach for all students. Some other popular reading programs use ‘Balanced Literacy’ or ‘Guided Reading,’ to anchor students’ development in reading. Programs like […]
The Instructional Sequence of Phonics Rules
Current research shows that students learn how to read most effectively when the skills needed are taught explicitly and systematically. But understanding the exact order in which students should learn phonics rules and concepts can be daunting. Yes, there are numerous curricular programs you can follow that provide their own scope and sequence of skills, […]
Teaching the Alphabetic Principle
The alphabetic principle states that all words are made up of sounds and that those sounds are represented by symbols. Students need to develop a thorough understanding of the alphabetic principle before they can master reading. The alphabetic principle is the foundation that allows students to master the skill of decoding words based on their […]
The Road to Reading Fluency
The road to reading fluency is a long one, and every step is crucial. That’s because each skill builds upon the one before it. That’s why it is so important to build strong foundational reading skills. Each step forward lays the groundwork for the success that is sure to follow! As the saying goes, “first […]
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