From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Teachers at the Opportunity Charter School in New York City voted to unionize. Yes—that dirty, but often misunderstood word, unionize. The quotes below explain why they voted to unionize and explain why parents need to critically evaluate all schools and programs, including charter schools and suspect university programs for poor readers, like the Rutgers University Summer Reading Program. Read more...
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From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
If your child reads at a second grade level or above, and reads words and sentences accurately—-but slowly and laboriously or without adequate expression—-he needs help with reading fluency. If his school won’t provide adequate fluency instruction, discuss these questions and answers with school personnel. They may not be aware of fluency’s importance and the ease with which teachers can help many students become fluent readers.
What is reading fluency? Read more...
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From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Parents, teachers, administrators, and politicians often demand the best reading method. Nothing less will do. So, of the hundreds of reading methods, which is best? Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, instruction, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Orton-Gillingham, reading, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, Reading Materials, reading methods, reading problem, reading problems, Reading Recovery, reading remediation, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Three common curriculum gaps that can intensify children’s reading problems are failing to teach them phonological awareness, automatic word recognition, and an alternative to single letter phonics.
Teach Phonological Awareness. This is the ability to identify and manipulate sounds within spoken words. For example, say the word bat without the /b/ sound. Unfortunately, may struggling readers struggle with phonological awareness. To develop proficiency, they need instruction. Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, phonics, phonograms, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, rimes, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, word families
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
In an enormously insightful book for teachers, school psychologists, and reading specialists, Jack M. Fletcher and his colleagues (2007) have identified 10 principles of instruction for students with learning disabilities (LD). These principles hold for any student who, despite quality instruction in general education classes, struggles with reading, writing, or mathematics. They can be enormously helpful for parents who want to increase the odds that their child’s IEP or remedial program remediates his problems. Here are three of the principles:
- Increase time on task. Interventions for students with LDs should supplement instructional opportunities, not supplant them. (p. 272)
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, instruction, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, principles of instruction, reading diagnosis, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading evaluation, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, struggling reader, Struggling Readers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
As many readers of our blog know, a direct mail advertisement from Rutgers University Continuing Studies promised that its 10-hour summer reading program of potentially large classes would quickly “turn poor readers into good readers.” The letter made other promises: Read more...
- Your child will become a strong, independent reader, build confidence, and become more successful in school.
- Your child will complete reading assignments more quickly and easily, be more successful in school, and become a strong, enthusiastic reader.
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, poor reader, poor readers, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, Reading Materials, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, Rutgers University, scam, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, summer reading program, tutoring
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Many proponents of particular reading approaches relentlessly bash other approaches. These proponents can be anyone. They can be teachers, professors, parents, politicians, or special education advocates. Many are well intentioned, but have little or no experience teaching reading, have little or no understanding of the relevant research, or have psychologically imprisoned themselves with strong ideologies that distort their observations and thinking. Many ignore all facts and research that undermine their beliefs, stress only those that support them, and fight vigorously to prove they’re never wrong, always right; they suffer from cognitive dissonance. Sadly, the decisions they make or influence can hurt children with reading disabilities. Read more...
cognitive dissonance, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, effective teachers, intervention, language experience approach, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading methods, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teachers, whole language
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
As many readers of our blog know, a direct mail advertisement from Rutgers University Continuing Studies promised that its 10-hour summer reading program of potentially large classes would quickly “turn poor readers into good readers.” The letter made other promises: Read more...
- Your child will become a strong, independent reader, build confidence, and become more successful in school.
- Your child will complete reading assignments more quickly and easily, be more successful in school, and become a strong, enthusiastic reader.
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Take lots of photos of your child doing safe, enjoyable July 4th kinds of things. Show him the photos and discuss them with him in relaxed, informal ways. During your conversation, stress two or three common words you think he can learn. Informally, tell him the meaning of the words and use them whenever it fits the situation. Encourage him to use the words. Avoid stress. Have fun. Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, parents, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, resilience, Resiliency, self-efficacy, self-esteem, strengthening resiliency, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, vocabulary, vocabulary development
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Recently, I received a letter from high ranking official at a major public university with a great reputation; the letter advertised a set of programs that promised to quickly “turn poor readers into good readers.” This promise disturbed me, as did the letter’s other promises: Read more...
- “Your child will become a strong, independent reader, build confidence [sic], and become more successful in school.”
- “Your child will complete reading assignments more quickly and easily, be more successful in school, and become a strong, enthusiastic reader.”
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, poor readers, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, Reading Materials, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, Rutgers University, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, summer reading programs, university reading programs
