Generally when we get individual students, or schools, onto the AceReader platform, we stress that improving your reading skills is not a competition. The only person you’re competing against is yourself, and the only scores that matter are those that show how much your speed, comprehension, and fluency improve as a result of your practice … Continue reading “Using Games for Comprehension”
Autism and Reading Comprehension – Interventions
Last week we talked in depth about studies documenting the difficulties children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) encounter with reading comprehension. Today, we’re going to look at a number of interventions designed specifically for the ASD student to help them overcome the limitations of their disorder and make progress learning to read for understanding. It … Continue reading “Autism and Reading Comprehension – Interventions”
Autism and Reading Comprehension – Overview
Autism, more commonly called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interactions, communication skills, and cognitive processing. Most individuals with ASDs also demonstrate limited imaginations and a tendency toward repetitive patterns of behavior. Individuals within the spectrum display a range of strengths and weaknesses, and their intellectual abilities may … Continue reading “Autism and Reading Comprehension – Overview”
Visual Stress Relief
Visual stress is something most people can relate to. We’re so busy looking at our computers, tablets, and smartphones every day that we overtax our eyes to the point where simply reading can be difficult. When we were hunters, gatherers, and farmers, we used our long-distance vision more. Today, though, we mostly use our eyes … Continue reading “Visual Stress Relief”
Guest Blog: Kidus Yared, 10th-Grade Student, on the AceReader Program
[Editor’s note: This is the fourth in an occasional series of guest blogs from a variety of AceReader users.] I’m currently in the 10th grade at Richard Montgomery High School, and I’ve been using the AceReader program on-and-off since I was about eight or nine years old. Reading has been a part of my life … Continue reading “Guest Blog: Kidus Yared, 10th-Grade Student, on the AceReader Program”
What is Reading Comprehension, and How Do We Assess It?
Reading comprehension is a hard concept to define, and an even harder one to assess. Though when asked, most people will say something on the order of “It means what you understand,” that’s really just substituting one undefined word for another. How can we get to the heart of the matter? According to Webster’s Collegiate … Continue reading “What is Reading Comprehension, and How Do We Assess It?”
Assessing Comprehension in the Real World
Our world has transitioned from a pen-and-paper to a multimedia experience. Instead of getting our information strictly from encyclopedias and books catalogued on note cards in the public library, we now look to the internet, social media, texts, videos, and online courses for content. What this means for reading is that we do not just … Continue reading “Assessing Comprehension in the Real World”
The Value of Reading to Kids at an Early Age
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents begin reading to their children as soon as they are born. While this may seem a little early to some, there is an increasing body of evidence that shows that kids who have early and regular exposure to books and stories – sometimes called “bookishness” – have … Continue reading “The Value of Reading to Kids at an Early Age”
The Thirst for Knowledge and the Critical Need for Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is an important strategy for today’s educational and job-related environments. It is important, therefore, that teachers and administrators understand the nature of critical thinking and embrace its many parts, all of which are necessary for true learning to occur. The first part of critical thinking, and one which has fallen by the wayside … Continue reading “The Thirst for Knowledge and the Critical Need for Critical Thinking”
Illiteracy in America – Part 2
In part 1 of this blog topic, we talked about the tremendous problem of adult illiteracy in this country, looked at the staggering numbers, and contemplated the possible correlations with varying social conditions. Now, though, we need to answer the questions those figures raised – what can we do to help those who are illiterate, … Continue reading “Illiteracy in America – Part 2”