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Tips for Parents: Give Your Early Learner a Head Start

Jul 25, 2019
 
 

A generation ago, kindergarten days were only filled with activities like finger painting, “Hide-and-Go-Seek,” making friends, and learning to be peaceful at nap time.

 

And, while reading and spelling may have been introduced in first grade, there was nothing like today’s pressure for students to be performing according to grade-level standards. Sure, there is still art, music, and games, but the specific expectations of teachers—and students—has amplified academic life all the way down to preschool.

 

You may be wondering, “Is my child ready for next year’s classroom?” Or, “Will they be able to keep up?”

 

What to Expect

Today, preschool, kindergarten and first grade classrooms offer more academics than in the past. To some degree, your child will definitely be working on:

 

✓ Letter names and sounds

✓ Sounding out for reading

✓ Sight word reading

✓ Printing letters and numbers

✓ Listening comprehension

✓ Communication skills

✓ Counting and understanding numbers

✓ Adding and subtracting

✓ Pencil and scissor work

✓ Color and shape recognition

 

Get Some Practice

Whether or not we adults feel great about the “new normal” for primary grades—now is the time to familiarize your child with the activities they will be exposed to—so they can feel great about the new year.  Try activities like reading simple books together and counting. Get started with our guide, The 3 Best Activities for Boosting Kindergarten Learning.

 

The Magic of Learning, right from the start!

Want some help giving your child a great start? Check out Kindergarten BOOST™ instruction at Lindamood-Bell, enrichment instruction offered year-round for students four to six years old. We develop the imagery-language foundation for reading, spelling, comprehension, and math. In a matter of weeks, we can help your child feel prepared and excited about their first day of school!

 

An age-appropriate learning evaluation is an integral part of all Lindamood-Bell instruction. Some students may require preliminary intervention to prepare for the Kindergarten BOOST™ format. If a child is already struggling with language and literacy skills compared to other children their age, addressing the issue early can make a difference.

 

Contact us to talk about how we can help your young learner, 800-300-1818. Find a learning center location near you, including many Learning Camps, Locations.

 

Connect with us
🎉 40 Years of Changing Lives Through Learning
As we continue looking back at the milestones that have shaped Lindamood-Bell, we’re returning to where it all began.

📖 1986: Nanci Bell publishes Visualizing and Verbalizing®

The same year Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes was founded, co-founder Nanci Bell published Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking®, introducing an approach designed to develop concept imagery, the ability to create an imaged gestalt from language.

The program grew from Nanci’s work with students who could read words but struggled to understand, remember, and think critically about what they read.
Today, Visualizing and Verbalizing® remains central to our approach to developing language comprehension and higher-order thinking skills.

Follow @lindamoodbellofficial as we celebrate 40 years of changing lives through learning. ❤️
Learn more at the link in our bio.
🎧 New Podcast Episode!

Lindamood-Bell for Schools Director of Development Dave Kiyvyra speaks with Winifred Winston and LeDerick Horne from the Black and Dyslexic podcast about the dyslexia identification and support gap.

They explore disparities in dyslexia identification, limited access to effective reading instruction in many communities, and the challenges families face in understanding and securing the support their children need.

Listen and subscribe at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📚 When should kids start reading?

Our latest blog article explores typical reading milestones, signs of readiness, the foundational skills that support reading and comprehension, and when additional support may be helpful.

👉 Read “When Should Kids Start Reading? Age Guidelines, Readiness Signs, and How to Help.” Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🎉 40 Years of Changing Lives Through Learning

This year marks a very special milestone for Lindamood-Bell: 40 years!

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be looking back at some of the milestones that have shaped our story. From our beginnings in 1986 to the work we do today, there is so much to celebrate.

And where better to begin than at the beginning?

📷 1986: Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes is founded.

Pat Lindamood and Nanci Bell co-founded Lindamood-Bell with a shared belief that all students can be taught to read to their potential. From the beginning, our approach was grounded in the understanding that reading is a sensory-cognitive process and that the underlying skills can be developed.

What began 40 years ago has grown into a journey we’re excited to revisit and share with you.

Follow @lindamoodbellofficial as we celebrate 40 years of changing lives through learning and share more milestones from our story.

For more information about Lindamood-Bell, visit the link in our bio. ❤️
Considering online homeschooling for your child? There’s a lot to think about beyond curriculum and flexibility.

How will instruction be personalized? Will your child have live interaction with teachers? What kind of support and school community will they have? And will the program help strengthen the learning skills they need to succeed?

Our new guide explores what families should consider when comparing online homeschool programs and how Lindamood-Bell Academy approaches learning from home.

Read Online Homeschool Programs: A Guide for Families at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
New Podcast Episode!
Tom Mendoza, Co-Director of Lindamood-Bell for Schools, and Deci Douroux, Professional Development Mentor Presenter, explore how developing concept and numerical imagery can help close math achievement gaps.
They discuss a three-step instructional approach that moves students from hands-on experiences with manipulatives to imagery and language, then to computation and problem-solving. Learn how this approach can support stronger number sense, mathematical reasoning, and confidence.
Listen and subscribe at the link our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
What’s the difference between Lindamood-Bell and Orton-Gillingham?

Our latest blog article explores the similarities and key differences between these approaches, including Lindamood-Bell’s emphasis on developing the sensory-cognitive processes that underlie reading, spelling, and comprehension.

Read the full article at the link in bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🎧 New Podcast Episode: A Parent’s Perspective on Lindamood-Bell Live-Online Instruction for Dyslexia
In our latest podcast episode, a mother shares her son’s journey with dyslexia and the impact personalized instruction had on his reading skills and confidence.
Through a combination of live-online and in-person reading instruction at our Learning Center, he developed the skills he needed to make meaningful academic progress.
Hear his story and his mother’s perspective on their Lindamood-Bell experience.
👉 Listen to the full episode at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🍂 Fall workshops are here, educators!
Strengthen your teaching with live-online workshops grounded in the cognitive science of learning and aligned with the science of reading and structured literacy.
• Practical strategies for reading, comprehension, and math
• Support for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism
Save 10% with code 26READY2LEARN10.
Reserve your spot through the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Dyslexia is complex, but understanding its causes can help parents and educators make informed decisions about support. Our latest article explores what research tells us about dyslexia, common misconceptions, and the evidence behind effective intervention. Read more at the link in bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
What is phoneme awareness, and why does it matter for learning to read?

Many people know phoneme awareness is important, but fewer understand how it fits into the bigger picture of reading development. Our latest blog explains what phoneme awareness is, how it differs from phonics, signs a student may need support, and why successful reading depends on more than phoneme awareness alone.
Whether you're a parent or educator, this guide offers practical insights into the sensory-cognitive functions that support reading.

Read the blog at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
🎥 Now Available On-Demand: Why Some Students Thrive in Smaller Learning Environments: Lindamood-Bell Academy

Could a smaller school make a big difference for your child? In this webinar, explore which students often benefit from a more individualized learning environment, how personalized instruction can build confidence and academic growth, and how Lindamood-Bell Academy's flexible approach is tailored to each student's learning needs.
Watch on demand and learn whether a smaller learning environment could help your child thrive.

👉 Watch now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
📚 Attention Teachers: Back-to-school savings are here!
Strengthen your instruction with live, interactive Lindamood-Bell professional development.
Save through September 30:
✨ 10% off live online workshops with 26READY2LEARN10
✨ 20% off in-service workshops for school teams (10+) with 26READY2LEARN20
Learn more at the link in bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Join us for the second session of our webinar series exploring the research, instruction, and outcomes behind meaningful learning change.

Why Some Students Thrive in Smaller Learning Environments: Lindamood-Bell Academy

📅 July 30, 2026
⏰ 10 AM PT | 1 PM ET | 6 PM BST

Could a smaller learning environment help your child thrive? We'll explore which students often benefit from smaller class sizes, how individualized instruction builds confidence and academic growth, and how a flexible curriculum can be tailored to each student's learning needs.

Register for free at the link. If you can't attend live, we'll email the recording to everyone who registers after the event. https://bit.ly/4wtLymN 
Tap the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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