AceReader Book Review – The “Humphrey” Series

Up today are a series of books recommended by the Montgomery County (MD) Public Library System. The series is broken in to two parts. The first part is known as the “Humphrey’s Tiny Tales” books; these are recommended for second graders or low-reading third graders. The second part is the “Humphrey Adventures” books; these are … Continue reading “AceReader Book Review – The “Humphrey” Series”


Conducting a Reading Evaluation – Part 2

Last week we discussed the necessity of conducting a reading evaluation for any child struggling with the reading process, and five of the eight elements that evaluation should contain to be effective. This week we will describe the remaining three elements – written expression, spelling, and reading comprehension – and how they impact the evaluation … Continue reading “Conducting a Reading Evaluation – Part 2”


How to Foster the Early Literacy Recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Last week we discussed the AAP’s policy statements and technical reports emphasizing the critical importance of early literacy for children – starting from the time they are born. Parents and caregivers should work with their pediatricians to ensure that their children are exposed to critical age-dependent skills so that they enter school ready to build … Continue reading “How to Foster the Early Literacy Recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)”


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”


Choosing Books for Your Child

Reading is an important skill, one a child will use all through their entire life. It will not only help them in school, but it will also help them working their way through achievement tests, getting into college, graduating from college, and making a success of their chosen career. But how do you get a … Continue reading “Choosing Books for Your Child”


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”


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?”


Ways to Help Struggling Readers

Most of the fundamental reading skills are taught to students between grades 1 and 3. It is essential that the students grasp the concepts and develop strong skills at that time, as beyond grade 3, students don’t learn to read but, instead, read to learn. For students who struggle with reading, teachers find that they … Continue reading “Ways to Help Struggling Readers”


Using Graphic Novels and Comics for Reading Comprehension

When you think of improving students’ reading comprehension skills, do you ever consider graphic novels and comics as handy instruction aids? If not, you should. The common cliché is that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but it’s absolutely true that students who are having difficulty comprehending a rigorous text may benefit from visual … Continue reading “Using Graphic Novels and Comics for Reading Comprehension”


Understanding Dyslexia – Part 1

[Editor’s Note: This is the first in a four-part series on dyslexia, its origins, manifestations, and interventions.] Most people think that dyslexia is simply reversing letters or numbers; it is much more than that. Dyslexia is primarily associated with difficulty reading; leading some doctors, specialists, and educators to refer to it as a “reading disorder” … Continue reading “Understanding Dyslexia – Part 1”