Some of you may have heard me using this analogy when talking about reading. It is important that in order to build a solid ‘reading pyramid’ we need to make sure that all the base blocks are strong and sturdy before going on to build the rest of the pyramid.
What I mean by this is that most students who struggle with reading, no matter their age, have some gaps in their basic knowledge and it is imperative that we fill these gaps before we move on. This is how we do things at Reading Connections. We help students to build their basic knowledge which then gives them confidence to tackle the more difficult aspects of reading, building their self esteem in the process. There is much evidence-based research which demonstrates that using programs based on phonological skills where a student can manipulate and identify the sounds in words are effective for teaching students struggling with reading.
Teaching reading in this systematic way means that students can conquer their fears and see themselves succeeding at something they may have struggled with for years. Students who can see themselves succeeding at something are more motivated and eager to learn. Their successes will have a significant impact on their self-esteem and their confidence and engagement will improve as their skills improve.
There are many ways in which to ‘build the pyramid’ and here at Reading Connections we believe it is important to engage the child and help make learning fun. We use many different strategies, including playing reading games, which our students love!
As parents, you can help to encourage your child to succeed in ‘building their pyramid’. Encourage them to sound out words they may not know. Expose them to reading in all its forms; books, magazines, recipes, instructions and even the shopping list! Who doesn’t want help with that?
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Sue