Struggling Readers

Having Your Child Tested for Learning Disabilities Outside of School

By: Reading Rockets (2008)

Children who struggle with reading often need extra help. This help usually comes from the school, but some parents choose to look outside of the school for professionals who can assess, diagnose, tutor, or provide other education services. The following article provides information on how to find the right person for your child.

Three Things Research Tells Us about Interventions for Struggling Readers

By: Joe Torgenson, et al. (2007)

This article, excerpted from a larger guidance document from the Center on Instruction, looks at what research tells us about helping students who read below grade level, and highlights the following findings: 1) schools must provide varied instructional support, based on the degree and nature of the student's difficulty; 2) it is important for students to learn comprehension strategies, and strategy instruction should be coordinated between literacy specialists and content-area teachers; and 3) more research is needed to prove which instructional improvements are really effective.

Dyslexia Basics

By: International Dyslexia Association (2007)

Do you think your child or student might have dyslexia? "Dyslexia Basics," a factsheet by International Dyslexia Association," tells you the definition, symptoms, causes and effects. Find out how to help.

When Good Kids Get Bad Grades

By: Lisamarie Sanders (2006)

Tutoring can offer kids the one-on-one attention busy teachers often can't provide. From simple homework help to intensive work on basic skills, tutoring can offer just the boost your child needs to succeed.

A Guide for Finding a Tutor

By: Partnership For Learning (2006)

From Poor to Soar: Finding the Help Your Child Needs

By: Lisamarie Sanders (2006)

Reading Failure

By: Society for Neuroscience (2006)

Teaching All Students to Read: Practices from Reading First Schools with Strong Intervention Outcomes

By: Elizabeth Crawford and Joseph K. Torgesen (2006)

Improving the effectiveness of interventions for struggling readers is critical. It requires a school-level system for early identification of 'at risk' students and then providing those students with intensive interventions. This article describes what the Florida Center for Reading Research has learned by visiting Reading First schools that have demonstrated success in reaching struggling readers. School leaders will find ideas described here that can help them successfully meet the unique challenges within their own schools.

Effects of Hearing Loss on Development

By: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2005)

It is well recognized that hearing is critical to speech and language development, communication, and learning. Children with listening difficulties due to hearing loss or auditory processing problems continue to be an underidentified and underserved population.

Helping Children With Communication Disorders in the Schools

By: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2005)

The following are frequently asked questions on how to help children with communication disorders, particularly in regards to speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

What's 'Normal,' What's Not: Acquiring English as a Second Language

By: Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin and Alejandro Brice (2005)

How can you tell when a student has a language-learning disability and when he or she is merely in the normal process of acquiring a second language?

Seeking Help for a Struggling Reader: Seven Steps for Teachers

By: Joanne Meier and Karen Freck (2005)

Children come to our classrooms from so many different ability levels and backgrounds. As a teacher, it's important to recognize and know what to do to help a struggling reader.

About Reading Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and Reading Difficulties

By: Kathryn Drummond (2005)

Reading difficulties likely occur on a continuum, meaning that there is a wide range of students who experience reading difficulties. There are those students who are diagnosed with a learning disability. There is also an even larger group of students who do not have diagnoses but who need targeted reading assistance.

Clues to Dyslexia from Second Grade On

By: Sally E. Shaywitz (2004)

Find out how the specific signs of dyslexia, both weaknesses and strengths, in any one individual will vary according to the age and educational level of that person.

Clues to Dyslexia in Early Childhood

By: Sally E. Shaywitz (2004)

Learn about the specific signs of dyslexia in early childhood. Both weaknesses and strengths, in any one individual will vary according to the age and educational level of that person.

Clues to Dyslexia in Young Adults and Adults

By: Sally E. Shaywitz (2004)

Learn about how the specific signs of dyslexia, both weaknesses and strengths, in any one individual will vary according to the age and educational level of that person.

Waiting Rarely Works: Late Bloomers Usually Just Wilt

By: American Federation of Teachers (2004)

Dyslexia: Beyond the Myth

By: Suzanne Carreker (2004)

This article describes the most common characterists of dyslexia and other learning disorders, and what you can do if you suspect your child has a problem.

Ten Myths About Learning to Read

By: Sebastian Wren (2004)

There are many beliefs and a great deal of dogma associated with reading acquisition, and people are often reluctant to let go of their beliefs despite contradictory research evidence. Here are 10 of the most popular and most potentially pernicious myths that influence reading education.

How to Adapt Your Teaching Strategies to Student Needs

By: Kathleen Bulloch (2004)

Teachers are often asked to modify instruction to accommodate special needs students. The following article takes the mystery out of adapting materials and strategies for curriculum areas.