7 Smart Ways to Assess Your Child’s Reading Level at Home
Wondering whether your child is reading at grade level but they clam up during formal assessments? You’re not alone and neither is your child. As a teacher and reading coach, I have seen this time and time again. Many parents want to support their children’s reading progress but aren’t sure what’s typical, what’s not, and […]
What Are Decoding Skills in Reading? 7 Effective Ways to Teach Them to Kids
If you’ve ever heard your child guess at a word while reading or skip over a tricky one entirely- Congratulations-you’re a parent! These behaviors are typical since many beginning and struggling readers rely on guessing because they haven’t yet mastered decoding skills—one of the most essential building blocks of reading success. But here’s the good […]
9 Effective Ways Parents Can Help When Their Child is Reading Below Grade Level
Christopher Barzak ironically noted, “Normal is just a setting on your washing machine.” After teaching reading for twenty years, I can confirm that “normal reading levels” are arbitrary and many children fall behind in reading skills at some point in their early education. While this can be concerning, the good news is that reading skills […]
10 Reasons Why Reading Comprehension is Essential for Children’s Success
Are you the type of person who loves to snuggle in on a rainy evening with a good book, read on the beach while listening to the waves, or enjoy chatting in a book club? I happen to fall into the category of all of the above. That’s part of why I enjoy being a […]
11 Powerful Benefits of High-Dosage Reading Tutoring for Struggling Readers
For many children, learning to read doesn’t come easily. Struggling with reading can lead to frustration, low confidence, and academic setbacks. However, research shows that high-dosage reading tutoring—frequent, structured, and individualized instruction—can accelerate reading growth and help children develop the skills they need to become confident readers. Unlike traditional tutoring, which may only happen once […]
9 Amazing Benefits of Summer Reading Programs for Kids – Keep Them Learning All Summer!
Summer evokes fun and relaxation-maybe a day swimming or a sweet treat like ice cream-and a break from school. But for many kids, it also means a break from reading practice, which can lead to learning loss. Known as the “summer slide,” this decline in reading skills can set students back two to three months, […]
10 Effective Ways to Help Your Fourth Grader Learn to Read
Fourth grade is a pivotal time when it comes to reading. By the time children reach fourth grade, reading shifts from learning to read to reading to learn. They are expected to read longer, more complex texts, infer meaning, and analyze information across subjects. You also want your child to enjoy the experience of reading […]
7 Key Differences Between Online Reading Tutors, Coaches, Programs, and Classes
With so many online reading options available today, it can be overwhelming for parents to decide what’s best for their child. Should you hire a tutor, work with a coach, enroll in a program, or join a class? Each option offers unique benefits, but the best choice depends on your child’s specific needs, learning style, […]
The Ultimate Guide: 10 Ways to Help Kids with Special Needs Learn How to Read
Learning to read is one of the most significant milestones in a child’s development. It’s a gateway to entertainment, participation in society, and endless possibilities for growth and success. For children with special needs, this journey often requires extra time, creativity, and customization. I taught children with specialized learning needs and have applied each of […]
10 Effective Ways to Help Your Sixth Grader Learn to Read
By the time students reach sixth grade, reading takes on a new level of importance. They are expected to tackle more complex texts, analyze deeper themes, and apply critical thinking skills across multiple subjects. However, if a child struggles with fluency, comprehension, or vocabulary, reading can quickly become frustrating. As a reading coach, my students […]
10 Fun and Engaging Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Read
Helping your child learn to read is one of the most rewarding (and daunting) experiences as a parent. Reading is the foundation for academic success and a lifelong skill, but it doesn’t always come naturally to kids. Teaching it doesn’t always come naturally to parents, either! The good news is that with a mix of […]
9 Ways to Know if an Online Reading Tutor is Right for Your Child
As a parent, there’s nothing harder than watching your child struggle. What happens when your child struggles to keep up in school or you’re unsure how to help them improve? You’ve tried helping with homework, setting up study schedules, and even finding extra resources—but nothing seems to click. As a reading coach, I’ve heard this […]
9 Practical Strategies to Help Kids with ADHD Become Stronger Readers
Reading is an important skill that impacts every area of learning and is used in many aspects of life. For children with ADHD, learning to read can be an extra challenging journey. Kids with ADHD may experience a combination of attention difficulties, impulsivity, and struggles with focus, which can make traditional reading lessons feel frustrating […]
7 Key Benefits of Accelerated Reading Programs for Kids
Private or public school? Classical education or homeschooling? Online or in-person learning? As parents, we are bombarded with conflicting claims regarding the best choices that will result in happy and healthy kids. We want our children to develop to their full potential and worry about whether we are making the right choices. As a reading […]
9 Ways to Help Homeschoolers Improve Reading Comprehension
One of the biggest challenges all parents face is helping their children develop strong reading comprehension skills. Reading comprehension goes beyond simply decoding words on a page — it’s about understanding the meaning of the text, making connections, and applying critical thinking. When children struggle with comprehension, they miss out on the joy and knowledge […]
10 Effective Strategies to Help Kids with Dyslexia Learn to Read
For parents of children with dyslexia, learning to read can feel like an uphill battle. But with the right strategies and tools to fit your child’s learning needs, children with dyslexia can become confident, capable readers. Dyslexia doesn’t mean a child can’t learn to read—it simply means they need a different approach. As a special […]
7 Ways Phonics and Sight Words Build Early Reading Skills
Peanut butter and jelly. Macaroni and cheese. Campfires and smores. Some things are better together, and you can’t think of one without the other. As a reading coach, my winning combination is pairing phonics with sight words. For your child’s academic success, they need a strong foundation in reading, but that doesn’t come naturally to […]
9 Ways an Online Summer Reading Program Can Prevent Learning Loss
Summer is a time for kids to unwind, but too much time away from academic routines can cause something known as the “summer slide.” This term refers to the learning loss children experience over summer break, particularly in reading. Without regular practice, kids can lose up to two months of reading progress, making it harder […]
10 Effective Ways to Help Your Second Grader Learn to Read
Second grade is a big year for young readers. By now, children should be moving from learning to read to reading to learn, but some may still struggle with fluency, comprehension, and decoding longer words. The good news? With the right approach, you can help your child build strong reading skills and gain confidence. The […]
10 Effective Ways to Help Your Fifth Grader Learn to Read
By the time children reach fifth grade, reading expectations increase significantly. They are no longer just decoding words—they are expected to analyze, infer, and think critically about what they read. If your child struggles with fluency, comprehension, or vocabulary, they may find it difficult to keep up with their schoolwork. As a reading coach, my […]
13 Ways Parents Can Build Confidence in Struggling Readers
Helping a child who struggles with reading can feel overwhelming, but as a parent, you have the power to turn reading challenges into opportunities for growth and confidence. With the right strategies and a lot of encouragement, you can support your child in becoming a more self-assured reader. As a reading tutor for the past […]
Free Online Reading Tutor Services vs. Paid Services – Choosing the Best for Your Child
When your child struggles with reading, finding the right support can feel like an uphill battle. Thankfully, the rise of online tutoring services has made it easier than ever to access help through free resources or paid programs. But with so many options available, how do you decide what’s best for your child? In my […]
10 Effective Ways to Help Your Third Grader Learn to Read
Third grade is the absolute BEST grade! (My bias as a former third grade teacher may be showing.) In all seriousness, third grade is a time of increasing independence and growing confidence. By third grade, children are expected to transition from learning to read to reading to learn. This means they need to develop fluency, […]
12 Proven Steps to Help Your Child Learn to Read
Reading is a complex skill, and let’s face it, most of us don’t remember how we learned to read. We want our kids to love reading, but knowing where to start is daunting. Over my twenty years of teaching reading, I have chatted with many parents who feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to help […]
10 Effective Ways to Help Your First Grader Learn to Read
First grade is a critical year for reading development. Your child is moving beyond letter recognition and starting to blend sounds, decode words, and build fluency. (Decode: figuring out how to read a word by looking at the letters and the sounds they make; Fluency: smoothly decoding words, reading at an appropriate pace, and using […]
9 Essential Steps for Parents to Identify and Address Common Reading Challenges in Children
Reading is a complex skill that requires the brain to perform many tasks simultaneously, including decoding words, understanding their meaning, and reading fluently. As a special education teacher and reading tutor with seven years of experience, I can attest to the importance of early intervention in preventing long-term struggles and managing confidence issues. Many children […]
Top 7 Benefits of Online Reading Tutors for Your Child
“I HATE reading! Do we have to?” Does this complaint about reading sound familiar? After 20 years of teaching students to read, I’ve heard this countless times. Parents long for their child to enjoy reading—or at least stop struggling. But when frustration takes over, it’s easy for kids, parents, and even teachers to feel hopeless. […]
10 Effective Ways to Help Your Kindergartener Learn to Read
In my experience as a classroom kindergarten teacher and an online reading tutor, learning to read is one of the most exciting milestones in a child’s early years. We love seeing the budding confidence as a kindergartener proudly announces, “I can read it myself!” However, for most kindergarteners, mastering reading skills takes time, practice, and […]
Parents: You Can Help Your Struggling Reader! Here’s How
Watching your child struggle with reading is hard. Reading struggles are common and you are not alone! In nearly two decades as an educator and a parent, I’ve helped countless students overcome their reading challenges. The right strategies can help every child grow into a confident and capable reader. Let’s take a look at why […]
Reading Programs for Kids – The Ultimate Guide
Kids can turn reading into their favorite superpower with Savvy Reading, an online reading program with delightful, live coaches and fun, challenging classes at the right level.
4 Ways to Help Your Child Learn Emotional Intelligence Through Reading
Many benefits of reading are obvious: it’s a low cost source of entertainment, cultivates curiosity, and enhances imagination. It helps develop a more robust vocabulary. It opens your child’s world up for learning a wide variety of subjects, from history to science to foreign languages. It can help children be successful in academics and life.
