NOW! Programs blog

Mom, I Used to Hate Reading

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:27:25 GMT

“Camron is, and always has been, an intelligent child with a deep thought process. He always asks thoughtful questions that seem beyond his years and his thought process amazes me. He has always been aware, alert, engaged and thoughtful. So when he began Kindergarten two weeks after his 5th birthday we were excited.

What do you do when a person struggles to read?

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:27:07 GMT

What do you do when a person struggles to read?

Dispelling Dyslexia Myths – a medical endeavor that should begin with Pediatricians?

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:26:56 GMT

Given that Developmental Dyslexia and a Specific Learning Disability with Impairment in Reading are now accurately classified as “Neurodevelopmental Disorders”, this helps highlight that they are of a medical origin and not caused by educational issues. Poor phonological awareness and the subsequent difficulty learning to read, despite adequate intelligence and opportunity, is most likely due to a genetic predisposition for learning difficulties. It is believed to most likely be due to inefficiently wired neurons in the left temporal, parietal, frontal and/or sensory motor strip of the brain – all of which are believed to have happened by the 6th month of gestation (before childbirth; see Galaburda, et al. 2006). Could Pediatricians be the first to explain these scientific dyslexia facts or #DyslexiaScience to families?

Library Literacy Tutor Uses NOW! Foundations™ to Change a Life

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:26:45 GMT

Diana Leon is a volunteer adult learning tutor for the Alachua County Public Library’s Adult Literacy program. All of the Alachua County Library tutors are trained in NOW! Foundations for Speech, Language, Reading, and Spelling®. Anyone interested in becoming an adult literacy tutor in Alachua County, FL should call Theresa Sterling, ACLD Literacy Coordinator, at 352-334-3929.

On Kindergarten, Reading, and Waiting

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:26:35 GMT

A recent article in The Huffington Post addressed reading skills in Kindergarten. It was intended to relieve parents of the high amount of pressure the current system puts on children to perform at a certain level academically, and it probably did just that. With the current backlash against high-stakes testing, parents are looking for pressure-release valves.

Could dyslexia awareness save our educational system?

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:26:20 GMT

When we talk about the educational system today, it is rarely in positive terms. Praises for the efforts and achievements of individual teachers are often overshadowed by criticism, pointing out its many shortcomings. Recently, these criticisms have focused on two related issues: high-stakes testing, and the unacceptably low percentage of students who are able to reach proficiency standards.

A Neuro-Developmental Model

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:25:44 GMT

Often, “new” science simply confirms the merits of how things have always been done.

Multi-Sensory Instruction

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:25:30 GMT

In discussing its marketing strategy with a documentary filmmaker, the CEO of an airline spoke of the “across the board” changes they were making, from their advertisements to the look of the interior of their airplanes. Even their luggage compartments were being redesigned for the purpose of increasing customer loyalty. When asked to explain how the shape of luggage compartments could have an impact on customer loyalty, he stated that this was a trade secret. “Other airlines may try to duplicate what we do, but if they don’t know why they’re doing it that way, it won’t work.”

Orton Gillingham – It’s Complicated – Part 1 & 2

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:25:23 GMT

Orton-Gillingham: It’s Complicated – Part 1

This is a two-part post. Their purpose is to argue that better language is necessary to describe what research has shown to be truly effective reading instruction. Science has shown that effective reading instruction can 1) prevent reading difficulties in most young children, even those with naturally weak phonological systems, and 2) build real reading skill in struggling readers rather than offering tricks, strategies, and “work-arounds.” Many believe that an Orton-Gillingham Approach is the best way (some believe the ONLY way) to do this. In part 1, we would like to argue that, while programs that take an OG approach are not precluded from being effective as reading instruction, it does not guarantee effectiveness. There must be better language to describe what constitutes effective reading instruction.

What to look for in a reading program

extima dev — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:25:09 GMT

The following article appeared on the Secular Home School site . It was posted as a discussion piece on their forum.. It was posted as a discussion piece to help others make a decision on choosing the reading program that was right for a homeschool environment.