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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.

Connect with us
At Lindamood-Bell, we believe that all individuals can be taught to read to their potential—including those previously diagnosed with a learning difficulty such as dyslexia. Visit our website to learn more about common dyslexia misconceptions, the latest research, and how Lindamood-Bell summer instruction can help your child. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Our free webinar is now available on demand. Lindamood-Bell's Director of Research and Development, Paul Worthington, shares valuable insights into common dyslexia misconceptions, peer-reviewed interventions, and the latest research. Watch now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
New Podcast Episode!
Lindamood-Bell for Schools Director of Development, Dave Kiyvyra, is joined by Heidi O’Leary, the Director of Special Education for Maine School Administrative District 75. They discuss how the district successfully implemented evidence-based literacy instruction. Listen and subscribe at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #specialeducation #scienceoflearning #dyslexia #teachersofinstagram #scienceofreading
Lindamood-Bell Academy provides individualized school curriculum and evidence-based instruction. The Academy can be an ideal setting for students previously diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges. 
Now enrolling for the 2023-24 school year! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #EnrollingNow #privateschool #PersonalizedLearning #Dyslexia #ADHD
Lindamood-Bell is excited to announce Tutor(clinician) job openings!
✅ Prior teaching experience is not required
✅ Paid training in programs used by Lindamood-Bell 
✅ Internship credits may be available 
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of others? Learn more and apply today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#LindamoodBell #SummerPositions #JoinOurTeam  #NowHiring
Is your child struggling with reading? 
Summer learning at Lindamood-Bell can help!
Our one-to-one, evidence-based instruction is tailored to address the needs of each student. Students make years of gain in a matter of weeks.
⏳Hurry to save your spot on our summer schedule! Get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #dyslexia #dyslexic #testimonial #summercamp
Educators:
Partner with us for your next teacher inservice—you'll also receive complimentary follow-up support for the entire school year! 
Our evidence-based approach is proven-effective for many students, including early learners and students with dyslexia. Get details and request a quote for your school or district today. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Lindamood-Bell Academy can be ideal for struggling readers. We develop foundational skills and provide individualized curriculum. Our evidence-based instruction closes the gap between performance and potential! Now enrolling for the 2023-24 school year. Learn more and get started! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #EnrollingNow #privateschool #PersonalizedLearning #Dyslexia #ADHD
🤩 We teach individuals of all ages how to read and comprehend to their potential! Our one-to-one, evidence-based instruction is tailored to address the unique needs of each student. Students make years of gain in a matter of weeks.

⏳Hurry to save your spot on our SUMMER schedule! Get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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.
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#lindamoodbell #testimonial #summercamp #inspirational
📣 Webinar tomorrow! May 17th at 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT/6 PM BST

📚 Lindamood-Bell's Director of Research and Development, Paul Worthington, will share valuable insights into common dyslexia misconceptions, peer-reviewed interventions, and the latest research. 

➡️ Register now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Now hiring for summer! 🌞📚
We’re looking for energetic, positive individuals to work as tutors (who we call Clinicians) in a Lindamood-Bell Learning Center. Join us as we teach students to read and comprehend to their potential! For more information and to apply, follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
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#LindamoodBell #SummerPositions #JoinOurTeam  #NowHiring
Lindamood-Bell Academy can be ideal for students diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges. We develop foundational skills and offer a full K-12 curriculum. Our evidence-based instruction closes the gap between performance and potential!
Visit our website to learn more about our school and how you can receive 50% off a month of tuition! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
.
.
.
#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #EnrollingNow #privateschool #PersonalizedLearning #Dyslexia #ADHD
Is your child struggling with reading? 
Summer learning at Lindamood-Bell can help!
Our one-to-one, evidence-based instruction is tailored to address the needs of each student. Students make years of gain in a matter of weeks.
⏳Hurry to save your spot on our summer schedule! Get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #dyslexia #dyslexic #testimonial #summercamp
🌞Now hiring for summer! We’re looking for energetic, positive individuals to work as tutors (who we call Clinicians) in a Lindamood-Bell® Learning Center.
 
📚Join us as we teach students of all ages to read and comprehend to their potential. We provide paid training in our evidence-based approach!

🌟View our current open positions and apply today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
.
#LindamoodBell #SummerPositions #JoinOurTeam  #NowHiring
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