Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the Science of Reading
Picture a beautifully braided rope, each strand essential to its strength and purpose. Now, imagine that rope represents everything your child needs to become a skilled reader. This powerful visual, created by Dr. Hollis Scarborough in the early 1990s, has become one of the most influential tools for understanding reading development. But how does this…
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R.L. Stine Books: Reading Goals for Growing Readers
“Mom, can we read the scary book tonight?” If you’ve heard this plea from your young reader, you’ve discovered the magnetic power of R.L. Stine’s storytelling. While your child might not be ready to tackle Goosebumps independently, these beloved books offer incredible opportunities as read-aloud goals and vocabulary builders. Let’s explore how to harness the…
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A Guide to Productive Parent-Teacher Conferences
Here’s a beautiful truth: when teachers and parents work as a team, magic happens for young readers. Let’s explore how to make parent-teacher conferences productive, supportive, and focused on helping every child succeed. Why Reading Conversations Matter So Much Reading forms the foundation for all academic learning, making it one of the most important topics…
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Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study vs Science of Reading
For decades, American classrooms have been shaped by different philosophies about how children learn to read. Several prominent approaches have contributed to the conversation. Two of those are Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study (often called balanced literacy) and the Science of Reading. Understanding these approaches can help teachers make informed decisions about supporting their readers.…
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Lois Lowry for Early Readers
When we think of Lois Lowry, our minds often jump to her profound middle-grade and young adult classics like “The Giver” or “Number the Stars.” Yet this celebrated author’s rich storytelling tradition can begin much earlier in a child’s reading journey. While her most famous works might wait for later years, Lowry’s engaging style, memorable…
Learning to Read with a Learning Disability
For many children, learning to read flows naturally from exposure to books, letters, and sounds. But for others, the path to literacy is filled with unexpected challenges and frustrations. If you’re a parent watching your child struggle despite their intelligence and effort, you know how heartbreaking this journey can be. The good news? Learning disabilities…
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