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Tips for Parents: When the Teacher Recommends Reading Help

Jun 21, 2019
 
 

Research shows that students who read over the summer break gain reading skills, while those who do not often slide backward, losing up to two months of what they learned during the school year.  This is why teachers always encourage students to read as much as possible over summer break. But if your last parent-teacher conference came with a specific suggestion—to get reading support during the summer months—you are likely considering one of the following:

 

1. Reading more with your child, taking on the role of “teacher” yourself

2. Hiring a “reading specialist” to tutor your child 1 or 2 times per week

3. Joining a library reading challenge for extra practice

4. Enrolling your child in a reading camp

5. Doing nothing—because perhaps reading has not yet “clicked” for your child

 

Any of these options can seem like a good idea, so it can be hard to determine the right solution for improving your child’s reading. Rest assured that many parents of primary grade students share this dilemma. With the precious summer months and hopes for a better school year at stake, it’s important to make the right plan for summer learning.

 

What your child needs for success

Reading is an integration of processing skills: word attack, sight word recognition, contextual fluency, oral vocabulary, and comprehension. For many students, a cause of reading difficulties is weak symbol imagery—the ability to visualize letters in the mind’s eye. The connection of imagery and language is necessary for sounding out new words, as well as for recognizing letters and common words. This difficulty can prevent students from accessing school curriculum as quickly and accurately as their peers do. Students who read fluently, and are able to self-correct their errors, are exhibiting strong symbol imagery. Learn more about symbol imagery and solutions for reading difficulties here.

 

Traditional reading camps and tutoring programs focus on content-area instruction, spelling, and reading rules. They may also touch on a variety of reading strategies. While these activities have value, they will not address and improve the underlying cause of a reading difficulty—thereby stretching the issue into the next school year.

 

And, unfortunately, practice does not “make perfect” for students who struggle with reading. While reading with your child and frequenting the library are excellent activities for all families, neither activity will improve reading if there is an unaddressed weakness.

 

Enough help to make a difference

Even great learning programs can be ineffective if they are not conducted with enough intensity to actually change learning. If a child falls behind peers in reading skills, intervention has to decrease the learning gap by increasing the rate of learning. To increase the rate of learning, students need the right diagnosis and the right instruction, in the right environment. At Lindamood-Bell’s learning centers, our daily, intensive intervention commonly results in years of gain in just a few weeks of instruction.

 

Learn more about intensive instruction, including a video featuring a parent’s perspective, here.

 

Beware of the “summer slide”

Questioning the teacher’s advice about summer help altogether? You’re not alone. Parents may wonder if a child’s reading is truly unsatisfactory as compared to his or her classroom peers. Or, they may wonder if it would be better to take a total break from schoolwork.  

 

When a teacher has indicated that a child could benefit from reading help, she has likely considered these factors, and more. For many students, three months away from academics can lead to measurable learning losses in skills—which, of course, is not what any family wants to be faced with at the start of the upcoming school year. The summer slide effect hits struggling readers harder than their peers; so, if your teacher has identified an issue, your child may be at risk of starting school even further behind.

 

The first step of a great plan

If you or your child’s teacher are seeing signs of a possible reading difficulty, or you are concerned that reading hasn’t yet “kicked in,” you need to find out why and discover that there is help. A learning ability evaluation uncovers the strengths and weaknesses that impact  learning. At our learning centers, we can identify the strengths and weaknesses that may be affecting school, and we can make recommendations for an individualized instruction plan.

 

Ask us how you can receive $50 off our Learning Ability Evaluation by completing a Complimentary Diagnostic Screening for Learning.

 

A few weeks at one of our learning centers can make reading a strength before the next academic year. Your child can become a better reader in time for school and have plenty of time for a great summer break.

 

In this video, a father shares his daughter’s struggle with learning to read and the success she found when they came to Lindamood-Bell:

 

 

Go here for a list of our locations, including our seasonal, summer-time learning camps. We look forward to helping you plan for summer learning that will make a difference for your child. Contact us at 800-300-1818.

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The Lindamood-Bell Learning Ability Evaluation sheds light on how your child's strengths and weaknesses impact their reading, comprehension, and math skills. Receive personalized recommendations for the type and duration of instruction that can transform your child's learning ability and confidence. Get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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Your student can experience school success with Lindamood-Bell Academy.  We address each student’s unique learning needs and provide a full curriculum. Don’t wait another year to make the switch—enroll today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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Boost your child's reading, comprehension, or math skills over winter break with Lindamood-Bell! 📚✨ 
Personalized in-person or online instruction is available. Act fast for a special 15% off the first week. ⏳
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🎧New Podcast Episode! 🎧
We welcome Jacquelyn, a 17-year-old learning disability advocate. Jacquelyn shares her transformative journey of overcoming dyslexia and dyscalculia. The episode explores her perseverance, academic achievements, and the value of evidence-based instruction on her journey. Listen and subscribe to Lindamood-Bell Radio at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#LindamoodBell  #podcast #testimonial #dyslexia #dyscalculia
Imagine what your child could accomplish with Lindamood-Bell! Contact our learning center to get started with in-person or live online instruction. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #testimonial #tutor
Lindamood-Bell helps students of all ages catch up or get ahead in reading, comprehension, and math. Our evidence-based instruction is effective whether you attend in person or live online. Get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #testimonial
Don’t wait another year to make the switch.  Your student can experience school success with Lindamood-Bell Academy.  We address each student’s unique learning needs and provide a full curriculum. Enroll today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #dyslexia #privateschool #personalizedlearning
Our evidence-based instruction is effective whether you attend in person or live online! Students everywhere can gain new skills and confidence—and have a successful school year. Get info for your student at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #onlineinstruction #testimonial
Winter Break is the perfect time for individualized, one-to-one reading, comprehension, and math instruction. Your child can conquer learning loss or get ahead before school resumes in the new year. Contact our learning center to secure your spot!
Get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #wintercamp #winterbreakcamp #winterbreak
Our personalized approach and evidence-based instruction can make a difference for your student. Don’t wait another year. Your student can make the switch to Lindamood-Bell Academy and get back on track! Get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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#lindamoodbellacademy  #privateschool #lindamoodbell #testimonial
New Podcast Episode!
Our guest, Sarah Kodinsky, is the CEO of a childcare service specializing in support for children with developmental needs. Listen and subscribe at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #podcast
Our evidence-based instruction helps students of all ages catch up or get ahead in reading, comprehension, and math. Contact us for a personalized plan to help your student have a great school year. Now enrolling for Winter Break! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#googlereview #fivestarreview #lindamoodbell #testimonial #tutor
Students of all ages can learn to read and comprehend to their potential with our evidence-based instruction. Attend in person or live online. 
Get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #testimonial
📣Attention educators! 
We've compiled the best moments from past Leaders in Literacy webinars. Topics include the science of reading, dyslexia, professional development, and instructional leadership. 🌟
Catch up on the literacy insights you might have missed. Now available on-demand! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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