Frequently Asked Questions on Reading Tutorials and More

I know my child is smart, but why can’t he learn to read?

The teaching of reading in most classrooms begins with letters and sounds. Some children are unable to “crack the code” of phonics or phonemic awareness because that system uses an auditory method.

Some children who need a visual system continue to struggle. The struggle with reading is not related to children’s intelligence. Your child may be a visual learner or a multi-sensory learner and not an auditory learner. That's how Write Read Lead is different from other programs.

Why is children’s language important to teach them to read?

Language is learned from infancy as children grow. Language is never taught. Children learn that words they hear can be repeated, imitated, and have meaning. Since children use all their senses, they watch and listen attentively not only to their parents but to other people they encounter.

Oral language is the beginning of children’s development. As children see things in their environment they touch and babble before they form words.

But the learning process includes language as the basis for communication. Therefore, written language is used as another form of communication. Reading is the process of oral language written down. The foundation for reading really begins with oral language development.

Why do children write before they read?

The theory behind writing first, originated from Dr. Roach Van Allen who stated “what you think you can say, what you say you can write, and what you write you can read.” The essence of reading is one’s thoughts written down.

How does writing a story teach reading?

Reading is actually a person’s thoughts written down. When children can read their own thoughts that are written down, they develop a sense of accomplishment.

They learn that if they can read their own thoughts, they can read other people’s words. In context, many of their words are the same as others.

If children are reading their own stories, how does that help them comprehend?

Comprehension becomes an integrated part of children’s own reading material. If they write what they know they can answer any kind of question about what they already know. Children’s success at answering questions about their own lived experiences prepares them to answer questions about unfamiliar material.

Why do you use a dictated system for teaching reading?

Children learn that their words are the same as other people’s written words, and become familiar with the repetition of seeing words in the context of their own writing. Writing also helps their thoughts.

The stories are dictated so there is no question of how to spell a word and how to write a grammatically correct sentence. Dictation is a model that children learn to imitate.

Why is writing so important to the process of learning to read?

As we write, the “story” becomes sequential. Writing becomes a natural process for self-expression. Once children can read their own work, they can read other people’s work.

The written word in books is really the author’s thoughts. When teaching children that their words can become written into understandable material that they can read themselves, it builds upon their confidence to read other authors’ work.

What are the signs of a reading child with a disability?

Is not interested in reading or listening to books read by parents or teachers
Has difficulty pronouncing words and gets frustrated when reading
Reverses letters (b for d) and reads words like “was” for “saw”
Does not understand what s/he reads
Loses place when reading; has eye-tracking difficulty
As the child reads, s/he skips words or lines in the material
Has difficulty completing other academic assignments

What are three myths about Learning Disabled (LD) children and their ability to learn to read?

First, children need to learn phonics in order to read. This is a myth because children learning to read already have knowledge of words and can comprehend material read to them.

Using those factors can assist children in the reading process. Since children have different learning styles, it should be apparent that another approach or alternative to phonics can bring the same results in reading proficiency that happens with phonics.

Second, more time or an increase in reading time will teach them to read. This is a myth because most children with learning disabilities need another approach, not more time. More time, with continued failure in reading progress, doesn’t change the reading progress.

Third, doing the same thing over and over again will change the results. This is a myth because if the process has not worked, teaching the same way repeatedly doesn’t change the results.

What are the three most important factors that people need to know about Learning Disabled (LD) children?

First, their passions drive them. If they are not interested they will not focus. So many children with attention deficit disorder are not really lacking attention, but are not interested in what they are learning.

Second, teachers and parents don’t give children with learning disabilities credit for their abilities. These children have more ability, not less.

They want to share their knowledge but need a safe and open forum in which to do so. They can actually teach if given the opportunity to share what they know.

Third, Learning Disabled children really have a desire to learn. They want to be recognized in an authentic sincere way that they are smart and can make a contribution.

What can we do as parents or teachers to help children with Learning Disabilities (LD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or behavioral problems due to reading frustration succeed?

Give these children credit for their own personal knowledge. Pay close attention to listening to them and have them contribute to their learning. If children are included as volunteers for their classrooms and recognized for what they know, they may change their disruptive behavior and behave more positively. Children want to be acknowledged and recognized for what they know regardless of whether the information will help them complete standardized tests properly.

Find opportunities where the children with learning disabilities can be leaders rather than disturbers. Have them be subject resources for a class project or activity.

Give them a responsibility to share their knowledge highlighting their subject matter expertise. Many learning-disabled children have a solid knowledge of computers and games.

Why do children who read well have difficulty comprehending material?

Children who read well are probably just good "word callers." They have a good command of phonics or phonemic awareness, but children do not understand the meaning of the words. In order to comprehend material, children need to know what the words they are pronouncing mean.

Therefore, after they read the words in the text children can’t answer comprehension questions. To improve the children’s comprehension, it is important to relate the words children are learning to their personal experiences. The meaning of words is generally understood when children can relate to what the word means.

My child can’t comprehend what she reads but has a good memory. What is her problem?

Reading comprehension doesn’t have anything to do with a child’s memory. When a child has difficulty answering questions about what she reads that usually means she is likely a “word caller” and has no knowledge of the meaning of the words.

What about skills? How do you teach reading skills?

Reading skills are taught and integrated into written stories. The Write Read Lead Program is comprehensive whereby children learn new vocabulary words and practice spelling words. The new vocabulary is learned through familiarity with the words the children use in their stories.

There is no teaching of letters and sounds or phonics, and new words' meanings are shared immediately. Also, children copy their stories so that they become comfortable with the writing process. They are writing complete sentences and punctuating the sentences correctly.

If children read their own words, how do they learn new vocabulary?

The Write Read Lead Program is based on children’s age-appropriate reading material. Therefore, when children use a word they are familiar with and can read, we work together to choose a synonym that is age-appropriate. They learn new words from the thesaurus that mean the same as the simple words that they use in their story.

The objective is to introduce children to new words, but maintain the integrity of the story they tell. At times children will use a word and suggest we try and find a different word in the thesaurus because they want to learn new words.

How do you handle children with Attention Deficit Disorder who cannot sit still enough to focus on reading skills?

Since the Write Read Lead Program concentrates on personal stories, children with attention deficit disorder stay focused because they are the center of attention.

Since the focus is completely on the children, there is an attitude change. Authentic attention changes children’s attitude when parents and teachers deliberately give them the one-on-one positive attention they crave.

Is the Write Read Lead program just for children?

No. An individual, either child or adult, can improve reading skills with the structure of the Write Read Lead Program. However, since the premise of the program is based on the children’s or adults’ personal stories, the reading program is not limited to children.

The actual skill development is based on age-appropriate information. Comprehension questions are derived from the content and topic and are very specific to the person learning to read