The Deaf and Reading Comprehension – Part 1 (Overview)

[Editor’s note: This is the first post of a five-part series on the deaf and educational interventions to ensure reading comprehension and fluency.] Chamberlain & Mayberry (2000) indicate that reading requires two related abilities. First, you must be familiar with a language. Second, you must understand the mapping between that language and the printed word … Continue reading “The Deaf and Reading Comprehension – Part 1 (Overview)”


Teaching All the Foundational Reading Skills

Learning to read is a complex process — as is teaching reading skills to young learners. Most of the debate about the best approach seems to center around the whole-word approach versus phonics, with the latter being the better supported. However, according to a recent post in Education Week, that debate misses out on the … Continue reading “Teaching All the Foundational Reading Skills”


Remote Support for Students with Dyslexia

We’ve previously discussed the challenges of reading for students who have dyslexia (links to all blog posts here), but our extended experience of remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic has led these students to face a new host of difficulties in education in general and reading in particular. Some students discovered their support services, including … Continue reading “Remote Support for Students with Dyslexia”


Guest Blog: Online Tools to Improve One’s Literacy

[Editor’s note: Today’s blog was written by Jane Miller, a freelance writer, part-time high school English teacher, and a graduate student based in Seattle, Washington. It has been lightly edited for clarity.] Literacy goes beyond just reading and writing. These skills allow us to communicate effectively, and, just as importantly, they give us the ability … Continue reading “Guest Blog: Online Tools to Improve One’s Literacy”


The History of Writing and Reading – Part 19: The Origins and Development of English (Part 3 of 4)

[Editor’s note: This is the twentieth of an ongoing series that examines the rise of writing – and therefore reading – around the world. We will be looking at the major developments and forces that shaped the written languages we use today. Links to all the previous posts are listed at the end of this … Continue reading “The History of Writing and Reading – Part 19: The Origins and Development of English (Part 3 of 4)”


The History of Writing and Reading – Part 16: Printing and its Effect on the World (Part 3 of 3)

[Editor’s note: This is the seventeenth of an ongoing series that examines the rise of writing – and therefore reading – around the world. It is also the third of a three-part discussion of the rise of printing and its effect on various civilizations. Links to all the previous posts are listed at the end … Continue reading “The History of Writing and Reading – Part 16: Printing and its Effect on the World (Part 3 of 3)”


Parrots Can Speak, but Can They Read?

Jennifer Cuhna is a lawyer with a bachelor’s degree in psychology; she also served as a research assistant at the University of Florida in a behavioral neuroscience laboratory and spent many years teaching inner-city kids how to read. Those experiences gave her both the inquisitiveness and the expertise to work on a rather unconventional study … Continue reading “Parrots Can Speak, but Can They Read?”


The American Academy of Pediatrics’ View of the Importance of Early Literacy

How important is early literacy in a child’s development? And when we say early, how early is that? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has weighed in on the matter with a number of policy statements and technical reports, and the results just might surprise you. The AAP recommends that pediatricians promote early literacy development … Continue reading “The American Academy of Pediatrics’ View of the Importance of Early Literacy”


Illiteracy in America – Part 1

Functional illiteracy is defined by the non-profit Literacy Volunteers of America as “the inability of an individual to use reading, writing, and computational skills in everyday life.” Think that’s not a problem in as developed a country as America? Well, you’re wrong. It’s a big one – a really big one. The National Center for … Continue reading “Illiteracy in America – Part 1”


Understanding Dyslexia – Part 4

[Editor’s note: This is the final post of a four-part series on dyslexia. Links to the other segments are included in the blog.] Last week, we talked about how parents can work with their dyslexic children to ensure they get the proper support in the home environment. Today, we’re going to talk about one specific … Continue reading “Understanding Dyslexia – Part 4”