Hook your upper elementary and middle school kids with these mystery books they will love.

As parents of tiny tots, we all know how hard it is to get these babes to sit down and focus on anything. Here are some sneaky ways to promote phonics learning. See how you can sprinkle phonics into your child’s daily playtime routine.

Babies learn that books are not only filled with intriguing images but are also meant to be explored and enjoyed through touch and interaction.

In the enchanting world of literacy, there exists a magical skill that transforms ordinary words on a page into a vivid tapestry of understanding – the art of inference, also known as “reading between the lines.” We do it all the time, but it is a skill that children must develop and may not automatically leverage when reading without practice.

As parents, we often hear about the importance of fostering a love for reading in our children. However, beneath the surface of this cherished activity lies a fundamental key to literacy success: vocabulary. Research consistently demonstrates the vital role vocabulary plays in enhancing reading comprehension and fluency, making it an essential aspect of a child's journey towards becoming a proficient reader.

Numerous studies underscore the strong correlation between vocabulary knowledge and reading achievement.

A text’s lexile level tells you how relatively difficult it is to read in terms of vocabulary and sentence structure. Kids and adults find it comfortable to read and. comprehend text at a certain lexile level and anything above that level can feel challenging, though not impossible.

A home library should be an ever-evolving menu of 10+ high-interest fiction and non-fiction text choices that are written at a lexile level that is comfortable for your child at that point in their development.

Phonemic awareness is the foundational skill in understanding and manipulating the individual sounds, or phonemes, that make up spoken words. It involves the ability to recognize, isolate, and manipulate these sounds without relying on written symbols. This skill is crucial in developing strong reading and spelling abilities, as it forms the basis for phonics, the connection between sounds and letters.

Reading comprehension is a skill that kids need to continue to develop into adulthood as they read more and more challenging texts.

Sight words, or high-frequency words, are crucial in early reading. Unlike phonics, which focuses on sound-letter relationships, sight words are recognized visually as a whole word. Mastering them boosts reading speed and comprehension, fostering confidence and efficiency in navigating new texts and building fluency.

Literacy Recipe: 3 key ingredients for literacy that parents can use to help their kids learn to read.

As a reading educator, I’m here to help parents understand the mechanics behind literacy and best practices and habits for fostering a life-long love of reading in their kids.