A World of Books by Kyna: Understanding Literacy

For parents of children with dyslexia, ensuring that their child receives the right educational support can be challenging. Schools may not always recognize the specific needs of dyslexic students, and traditional instructional methods may fail to meet these learners where they are. However, parents can play a crucial role in advocating for evidence-based instruction that supports their child's growth and academic success. This blog post offers a practical guide on how parents can advocate effectively in schools, focusing on the importance of structured literacy programs, which align with the Science of Reading and are proven to help dyslexic learners thrive. What Is Structured Literacy and Why Does It Matter? Structured literacy is an instructional approach that teaches students the fundamental skills of reading and spelling systematically and explicitly. It involves: Phonology: Understanding how sounds function in language. Sound-Symbol Association: Learning how letters cor...

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities, affecting about 10-15% of the population. Despite its prevalence, it often goes undiagnosed until children struggle significantly with reading and writing, sometimes as late as third grade or beyond. Early phonological screening offers a proactive solution to identifying children at risk for dyslexia before these challenges take root, ensuring they receive timely interventions that can prevent frustration and foster long-term success. In this post, we’ll explore what phonological screening entails, why it is essential for early dyslexia detection, and how it supports both academic progress and emotional well-being. What is Phonological Screening? Phonological screening is a tool used to assess a child’s ability to recognize, identify, and manipulate the sounds of spoken language. Phonological awareness is a key skill required for learning to read and includes tasks like: Identifying rhyming words (e.g., “cat” and “hat”) Blendi...

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities, affecting approximately 10-15% of the population. For dyslexic learners, traditional reading instruction often falls short, leading to persistent struggles with reading, writing, and spelling. However, an evidence-based approach called Structured Literacy has proven to be the gold standard for teaching dyslexic students, offering them the tools they need to succeed. This approach is also rooted in the Science of Reading , making it not just effective for dyslexic learners but for all students. In this blog post, we will explore what Structured Literacy is, why it works for dyslexic students, and how it aligns with the Science of Reading. What is Structured Literacy? Structured Literacy is an explicit, systematic, and cumulative approach to teaching reading that is designed to meet the needs of struggling readers, especially those with dyslexia. It emphasizes teaching the foundational skills of language—like phonology (the soun...

Personal Note: Hi everyone, We apologise for our absence and inconsistency in keeping up with social media trends. As literacy tutors trying to build a literacy business, we often get caught up in day-to-day tasks, making it difficult to find time to sit and write. However, we recognise the importance of being consistent, especially during this month, which shines a light on what we do every day. Dyslexia and other learning disabilities are challenging for the student, the parent, and the teacher/tutor. We are all doing our best with the knowledge and resources we have, and sometimes, we need more, which can be mentally exhausting. Despite the exhaustion, frustrations, and moments of feeling stuck, we find the strength to get back up every day and try again. This is what it means to be a dyslexia warrior. To my fellow teachers, parents, and especially my students, it's been a tough year, but we've gotten up and tried again and again. And we will continue to do so because there...