Reading fluency is the speed or rate of reading without conscious attention to the mechanics of reading. A fluent reader has the ability to read and understand words automatically. They are able to more easily comprehend complete sentences and entire reading selections.
The Learning Blog 👋
Best Practices for Teaching Phonics
Phonics is the ability to pair individual sounds with a visual symbol (letters). This method is frequently used to teach reading. Phonics teaches the sounds that letters or groups of letters make when spoken. Phonics is the process of matching sounds to letters. Reading experts refer to this as the alphabetic principle. This process is…
Halloween Activities to Improve Learning and Comprehension Skills
Halloween and comprehension skills? What could they possibly have in common? You know as well as I do that your kids are excited about Halloween and just want to enjoy the day, but what if they can enjoy the day and learn at the same time? That is a win-win situation in my book! So…
Phonemic Awareness and Reading
Phonemic awareness is critical to reading. Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds – phonemes – in spoken words. A phoneme is a unit of sound that distinguishes one word from another, for example, /b/, /c/, and /s/ in the words bat, cat, and sat. When we hear or read…
Executive Function and Reading
“If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail.”– Benjamin Franklin Executive function is all about planning and organizing. It’s also your ability to strategize and pay attention to and remember details. Executive function also involves flexible thinking. This is used when you have an assignment or project, or a problem that can be done…
Reading and Spelling: Decoding and Encoding
How are Reading and Spelling Connected? Reading and spelling are two sides of the same coin. In order to do one part well, you need the other part. In order to read, you need to decode (sound out) words. In order to spell, you need to encode words. In other words, pull the sounds apart…
10 Back to School Supplies That Make the Difference
What Can You Do to Get Your Kids Off to a Great Start for School Success? Having the right back to school supplies can make the difference between feeling prepared for the school year and not. They can help boost your kids’ confidence as they enter the school year knowing that they have the supplies…
School Success: Goal Planning for Your New School Year
Executive Function Skills, Setting a Big Audacious Goal, and How to Help Your Kids’ Successfully Plan their Year PLUS FREE Goal Planning Worksheet School success depends on executive function. Executive function is all about planning, organizing, strategizing, paying attention to, and remembering details. In order to succeed, you do need to be somewhat organized. You…
How Vocabulary and Comprehension are Connected
Going back to my first year of teaching, I found that comprehension was impacted directly by vocabulary. When you don’t understand a word, how it is connected or associated with other words, it is hard to comprehend. Comprehension is the ability to understand and use what you have read or learned. This involves understanding, analyzing,…
4th of July Family Activities
The 4th of July is perfect to do family activities outside like a picnic or BBQ in the park. Make your 4th that much more memorable by playing games. Some of our favorites include relay races, obstacle courses, and the one sure to go over with a splash, a water balloon toss. You might not…