Signs of Dyslexia and what to look out for
The signs of dyslexia can occur early on in a child’s life, but it is not always clear to parents and educators what to look for. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects reading. But it often affects other areas of a person’s daily functioning as well. Here are some of the signs to look […]
Encouraging your child to read is easy with these 4 steps
Getting your child to read always feels like a parenting win, doesn’t it? We’re constantly told by the media and by scientists how important it is for kids to read. And these experts certainly aren’t wrong. But encouraging your child to read is a bit tricky when they absolutely hate it? What do you do […]
Is it Dyslexia or ADD?
I’ve noticed a very interesting trend in my practice in recent years. Often children – specifically boys – will present with symptoms associated with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) such as distractibility, impulsivity, fidgetiness, lapses in concentration, etc. as well as difficulties in reading. During the background interview the parents will usually note that the boy’s […]
Kids learning to read: visual figure-ground perception
Visual figure ground perception refers to the ability to distinguish a figure or object from it’s background and is a vital element to reading. This ability enables emerging readers to focus on words and letters and ignore background prints or blots and smudges on a page. Practice this skill by letting your emerging read information […]
Signs and symptoms commonly associated with Dyslexia
There are about 27 accepted definitions of Dyslexia and experts cannot seem to agree on exactly what this learning disorder is and how it presents itself in young children. There are dozens of Dyslexia Tests on the market, but not one single universally accepted test to try and identify this learning disorder. For this reason […]
IEB concessions / accommodation application process
A recent psycho-educational assessment is often required when making an application for an IEB Accommodation / Concession. However the decision as to whether an accommodation will be granted lies with the IEB and its accommodations panel NOT with the practitioner who conducted the assessment or with the school. The following guidelines outline the general application […]
Spelling strategies for kids
There are 26 letters in the alphabet, which make about 44 sounds individually and combine into a possible 577 letters and sounds. This can be intimidating for even the most confident child. Spelling is not quite as simple as understanding what sound each individual letter makes, a child also needs to understand what sound it […]
Reading games for foundation stage
Early reading – these reading games for foundation stage learners will help them master sight words and basic spelling words: Word Bingo: create a grid on a page and laminate it. Write your child’s sight words or spelling words on the grid with a white board marker and play bingo. She would need to read […]
Reading games for preschool kids
Here are some reading games to play with your preschool kids: I spy: play I-spy to introduce phonics, ensuring that you use the letter sound and not the name, for example, ‘ah’ (a), ‘buh’ (b), ‘cuh’ (c), rather than ‘Ay’ (A) ‘Bee’(B), ‘See’(C). The game goes like this: “I spy with my little eye, something […]
Fostering a love of reading in children: Ages 6 to 8 years
Fostering a love of reading in children: Ages 6 to 8 years At this age, your little baby has grown and changed in leaps and bounds and her appetite for knowledge is almost insatiable. She is able to understand feelings and relate them to other people (no longer being as self-centred as she was before […]
