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DAP: Observing, Documenting, and Assessing Children’s Development and Learning

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Observing, documenting, and assessing each child’s development and learning are essential processes for educators and programs to plan, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of the experiences they provide to children.

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Developmental milestones for first graders

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What skills do 6- or 7-year-olds typically have by the end of first grade? Explore physical, language, and social developmental milestones for first graders.

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IRIS | Page 3: Instructional Versus Testing Accommodations

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As explained previously, accommodations help students with disabilities to access instruction and to demonstrate their learning. These accommodations are included in a student’s individual education program (IEP) or 504 plan. As discussed below, these accommodations can be implemented during instruction and testing.

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Common accommodations and modifications in school

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Refer to this checklist of common modifications and accommodations to get to know options for struggling students.

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- Lucy had a brand new little red Wagon.

My daughter, Aubrey, is five years old and we love to read together.

We spend a couple of minutes at the end of each book talking about what we just read.

This helps improve Aubrey's knowledge, understanding and memory of what we read.

Who was this book about?

- Lucy.

- Lucy!

We use a strategy called the five W's and H chart.

It helps Aubrey organize her thoughts, who what, where, when, why, and how.

Sometimes I go a little deeper and ask my daughter why she thinks that.

Where does she go to buy those vegetables?

- To the market.

- To the market.

The W and H chart helps me gauge Aubrey's level of understanding when reading.

And how does she get these back home, Aubrey?

- She rides her choo choo train.

- [Speaker] Sponsored by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, helping build literacy skills and encouraging parents and children to spend 20 minutes a day reading together.

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Learning to Read | The 5 Ws and an H: Building Reading Comprehension | Season 2022

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Make a chart with the five Ws and an H to help young readers build reading comprehension.

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Vocabulary, in the context of learning to read, refers to the collection of words a child understands and uses. It encompasses both receptive vocabulary (the words a child comprehends when listening or reading) and expressive vocabulary (the words a child uses when speaking or writing). A robust vocabulary lays the foundation for reading comprehension, as it enables children to connect the words

Building a child’s vocabulary can significantly contribute to their reading proficiency as they grow older. A strong vocabulary not only enhances a child’s ability to understand and interpret text but also fosters higher-order thinking skills (Beck et al., 2013).

One effective way teachers and parents alike can encourage vocabulary development is through self-narration. By narrating their actions, commenting on surroundings, and offering synonyms for common words, adults provide children with repeated exposure to a variety of terms. For example, when enjoying a treat, you might say, “This ice cream tastes good—actually, it’s delicious!” Or, when giving a compliment, try, “Your hair looks so pretty—no, it looks marvelous!” This practice enriches children’s language experiences and helps them understand subtle differences in word meanings.

Another activity that supports vocabulary growth, both at home and in the classroom, is interactive read-alouds. Choose stories that contain rich, age-appropriate vocabulary, and take time to highlight and explain key words as you read. Encourage children to repeat new words, describe their meanings, and even use gestures to demonstrate understanding. For instance, while reading a book about a trip to the zoo, you could pause to say, “The children went to the zoo to see the elephants. I wonder where the concession stand is.” Then, explain what a concession stand is and ask children if they’ve ever visited one. These interactions deepen comprehension, make connections to real-life experiences, and make the learning process more engaging and meaningful.

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The National Reading Panel’s report to Congress identified five critical elements of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Educators working in early childhood settings are encouraged to incorporate research-supported strategies into their teaching and assessment methods. By doing so, they can help children develop these fundamental reading skills and set them on the path to becoming proficient, confident readers.

Why These Components Were Highlighted:
The National Reading Panel emphasized these five components because decades of research had shown that they form the foundation of effective reading instruction. Each component addresses a key aspect of the reading process: phonemic awareness helps children understand the sound structure of words, phonics provides the knowledge to connect those sounds to letters, vocabulary expands word knowledge and meaning, fluency ensures smooth and expressive reading, and comprehension allows readers to make sense of what they read. By focusing on these elements, educators can provide a balanced approach that supports all aspects of reading development.

APA Reference:
National Reading Panel. (2000). Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

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Reading fluency is the ability to read smoothly and quickly, with expression and understanding. When parents support their child at home with fluency-building activities, it not only strengthens reading skills but also boosts comprehension, helping students become more confident and motivated readers. According to the National Reading Panel (2000), "Fluency provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension, facilitating students' ability to focus on meaning rather than decoding each word."

APA Reference: National Reading Panel. (2000). Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching children to read. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

3. 2 Activities that Can Be Done at Home and in the Classroom with Differentiation:

Activity 1: Repeated Reading

Description:
Have students read a short, familiar passage multiple times, aiming to improve speed, accuracy, and expression each time. This can be done with a parent or in pairs, where the student reads aloud and then reflects on their improvement after each round.

Differentiation:

For advanced learners: Use more challenging texts or have them practice reading with different expressions or emotions.

For struggling learners: Provide a shorter passage or offer additional modeling and support as they read aloud.

Activity 2: Echo Reading

Description:
In echo reading, the teacher or parent reads a sentence or short passage aloud, and the student repeats it exactly after them, mimicking the tone, expression, and rhythm. This helps build fluency through modeling.

Differentiation:

For advanced learners: Increase the complexity of the sentences or passages.

For struggling learners: Use simpler sentences and offer extra time for the student to repeat after you, ensuring a supportive, low-pressure environment.

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Connecting Letters to Sounds for Reading Success!

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Connecting Letters to Sounds for Reading Success!

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Phonics is the foundation of reading—by understanding the relationship between letters and sounds, children can begin to decode words independently. It's crucial for parents to work with their children at home to strengthen phonics skills, as early practice reinforces these skills and boosts overall reading confidence, providing a strong base for future literacy success. According to the National Reading Panel (2000), "Phonics instruction is essential in helping children learn to read and understand words, setting the stage for more complex reading skills."

APA Reference: National Reading Panel. (2000). Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching children to read. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

3. 2 Activities that Can Be Done at Home and in the Classroom with Differentiation:

Activity 1: Phonics Scavenger Hunt

Description:
Create a list of letters or sounds for students to find around the house or classroom. For example, find something that starts with the letter "b" (e.g., ball, book). Students can check off each item as they identify it, helping to reinforce letter-sound connections.

Differentiation:

For advanced learners: Ask students to identify blends or digraphs (e.g., "sh," "ch," "st").

For struggling learners: Provide pictures or word cards with the targeted letter or sound to help them focus on the visual representation.

Activity 2: Phonics Flashcard Race

Description:
Use flashcards with letters or simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words. Hold up a card, and have students say the sound or word as quickly as possible. Turn it into a race to make it exciting and challenge them to beat their previous time.

Differentiation:

For advanced learners: Include longer words or sight words to challenge them further.

For struggling learners: Focus on single-letter sounds and give them extra time to respond, ensuring they don’t feel rushed.

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For Educators and Parents:Phonemic Fun: Playful Ways to Boost Your Child's Reading Skills!

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For Educators and Parents:Phonemic Fun: Playful Ways to Boost Your Child's Reading Skills!

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Did you know that the smallest sounds—called phonemes—are the building blocks of reading? Understanding these sounds is crucial because they help children decode words, making reading more accessible and enjoyable! Below, you can learn more about games you can play with your child at home that will support learning in a fun and engaging way. Students who work with their parents at home are three times

more likely to succeed in school (Henderson & Mapp, 2002).

Developmentally Appropriate Classroom or home Activities to Support Phonemic Awareness! Find links below in th padlet.

Activity 1: Phoneme Dance

Description:
In this activity, students engage in a movement-based game where they act out the sounds of different letters or phonemes. For example, when the teacher says "b," students might pretend to bounce a ball, or for the sound of "s," they might "slither" like a snake. The teacher says a phoneme, and students perform the corresponding movement, reinforcing the sound with their body.

Differentiation for Students with Exceptionalities:

For students with auditory processing difficulties: Provide visual cues for each movement (e.g., pictures or hand signals), and give them extra time to process the phoneme before responding with the movement.

For students with mobility challenges: Offer seated movements or alternative gestures that allow students to participate without needing to stand up.

For students with developmental delays or autism: Use consistent and repetitive movements that help reinforce the sounds and offer sensory-friendly alternatives for engaging with the activity, like using soft music or dimmed lights.

Activity 2: Phoneme Dominoes

Description:
Phoneme Dominoes is a matching game where students connect domino pieces with different phonemes (sounds) on them. Each piece has a picture and a corresponding phoneme sound (e.g., an image of a dog for "d"). Students must match the phoneme on one domino with a matching phoneme on another domino, either through sound or the image associated with the sound. This helps students link phonemic sounds with visual representations and enhances recognition.

Differentiation for Students with Exceptionalities:

For students with language delays or difficulties in decoding: Use a reduced set of dominoes with only a few phonemes to make the game more manageable. Additionally, allow students to match phonemes with images, focusing on visual clues.

For students with ADHD or focus challenges: Offer shorter rounds of the game with fewer pieces and frequent breaks, ensuring that they remain engaged and not overwhelmed.

For students with non-verbal autism: Allow for communication through gestures or devices to participate in the game, ensuring they can engage through alternative methods.

APA Reference: Henderson, A. T., & Mapp, K. L. (2002). A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family, and community connections on student achievement. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.

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article for parents Building Vocabulary 

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article for parents Building Vocabulary 

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Vocabulary: Activities for Your Pre-K Child

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Long before young children learn to read, they are hearing lots of words in everyday conversations and through read alouds. Building up a child’s “word bank” from a very young age is great preparation for reading fluency and comprehension later on.

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Free ECE Reading Fluency Passages for kids 

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Free ECE Reading Fluency Passages for kids 

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Easy Reading Passages for Kids to Practice Fluency #kidsbooks #literacyresources #earlylearning

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Over the last few years, digital learning technology has boomed. Now, more than ever, you can find high-quality educational programs online - and many of them are free!

If your pre-k, kindergarten or elementary child needs extra reading practice, put those tablet screens to good use and check out an online reading program.

These free or low-cost reading websites and apps feature digital libraries to help learners master letter sounds, sight words and reading comprehension without frustration.

Online reading programs are an excellent way to ignite a lifelong love of reading. Once a child can read, they can go anywhere on their reading journey. So let's go!

Assess your child's reading level before jumping in

Before you get started with an online reading program, it's important to know your child's current reading level, which may or may not line up with their grade level.

If your child is in a traditional school, check with their teacher. They should be able to give you a breakdown of where your child is and what they need to work on.

If you're homeschooling, start slightly below where you think your child is. Jumping too far ahead is likely to cause frustration, but lessons kids can quickly run through are confidence-boosting when starting out. Since many programs are gamified and interactive, the excitement of "winning" will help encourage more reading time.

Just be sure to not go too simple. If your preschooler is mastering digraphs (two-letter sounds like sh, ph, or oo), starting them on the more basic phonics can quickly get boring. Take some time to read with your child or watch them complete a few lessons of their online program and you'll quickly gather an idea of where they are in their learning.

No matter your child's current reading level, don't be afraid to tackle books above their level together. Reading aloud is a great way to expose children to new words and interesting stories.

A love of reading is built on fantastic stories. Reading with you, or even listening to audiobooks, are great ways to encourage a love of books - especially if your child encounters frustrations while learning to read solo.

The 15 best online reading programs to help build comprehension

Here are our top 14 picks for online reading programs. From phonics instruction to vast digital libraries, these online reading resources will keep kids excited about learning!

Prodigy's brand-new adventure introduces kids to a world filled with adventures, wishes and more ways to practice reading and language skills.

As your child plays, they'll answer questions that help them gain more energy. Players can use their energy to gather resources from an open world, craft items, earn coins and build their very own village!

Prodigy English is a great way to motivate kids to practice their language skills in a fun, engaging environment. Create a free parent account to get started today.

Price: Free, with optional paid Membership

Starfall is an excellent reading program for younger students, from pre-k through 3rd grade. It uses cute animated characters, songs and interactive games to teach phonics basics.

Starfall is particularly great for helping kids with reading challenges, such as dyslexia. It's untimed and stress-free, and uses plenty of positive reinforcement to help build up childrens' reading confidence.
Price: access some free content, or unlock all resources for $35 USD per year.
If your child is starting to read on their own, give them access to unlimited books with the Epic reading library. Epic is great for beginning readers, and will grow with your child as their reading improves.

This online tool recommends books based on your child's reading level and interests. It offers a selection of "read to me" books, with an easy-to-use dictionary feature to help their skills grow. Your child will be encouraged to continue reading as they earn badges for their achievements!
Price: basic membership includes one free book every day. Unlimited plans are $9.99 USD per month or $79.99 USD per year.
You know the importance of reading aloud to your kids, but some days it's hard to find the time. Not to worry - with Storyline Online, your child can enjoy books read by some of the biggest celebrities in Hollywood.

Each story includes an animated video to accompany the actor. There's also an included activity guide to help you discuss the story together!

This reading program's educational games cover a wide range of subjects, including early reading and language arts. Explore games by subject and age level, from pre-k to 6th grade.

Some features are available for free, but for ad-free play and an improved mobile experience, you'll need a premium plan. Luckily, the website lets you explore all of its learning games before committing to a paid plan.
Price: ABCYa offers a free plan with ads, or purchase a premium plan for $9.99 USD per month or $69.99 USD per year.
If you're a teacher or a homeschooling parent, you need to explore this reading website.

ReadWorks has a variety of engaging, well-written text to correspond with whatever your K-12 child is studying. These topics cover both non-fiction and literary assignments, complete with question sets and vocabulary practice.

And if your child is struggling with reading, ReadWorks provides a feature called StepReads. This presents the same information as the original text, but in a simpler way. Instead of "dumbing down" the topic, ReadWorks teaches the same material (including vocabulary words), no matter your child's reading level.

StoryPlace is designed to bring the library story time experience home. Perfect for pre-k children, this reading website combines stories with movement, activities and songs.

The videos accompanying each book are bright and colorful, and a crafty hands-on activity is suggested with each story. If you have littles, give this free resource a look.

If you want to help your child learn to read, visit Oxford Owl for some amazing, confidence-boosting guides for parents. These guides break down how phonics works, share learning at home tips and explain reading comprehension milestones from pre-k to age 11.

And don't forget to explore their free digital library with a huge variety of tablet-friendly reads!

PebbleGo is a research resource for early elementary children. It has a variety of texts on animals, science and history with a read-along feature for struggling readers. However, this online resource requires a school sign-on code. Check it out and suggest it to your local school to gain access to this wonderful online library.
Price: available at home for free with plans available for a schoolwide subscription.
If your struggling reader loves a good story, keep that love alive with audiobooks.

From classic fairy tales to Greek myths, your child can explore the world with a wide variety of audiobooks from Storynory.

Each book includes a transcript so kids can follow along. The website has quite a few ads, but all stories can be downloaded to keep your child listening ad-free. Or try their app for an ad-free display.

Vooks wants to help your child get excited about reading. It combines great stories with beautiful animation to help your child discover the magic of books. It's the healthy, ad-free screen time you need.
Price: sign up for a 7-day free trial, then pay $4.99 USD per month or $49.99 USD per year.
Khan Academy is still one of the best online learning resources for, well, anything.

For early readers, explore the new Khan Academy Kids! This self-paced, personalized program is perfect for little ones ages 2 to 6.

Or if your older child is looking for extra reading help, head to the original Khan Academy site. You'll find personalized reading instruction for your 2nd grader and beyond. Practice reading comprehension in a self-paced, safe place and watch them grow.

Not everyone learns to read at the same time, and some people encounter more barriers to reading than others. Bookshare knows the most important thing is to enjoy the books and learning, no matter the format.

Bookshare provides audiobooks, with highlighted text, to its learners. Its library offers over a million titles to choose from, accessible on almost any device.

Price: free for qualifying US students. Learn more on Bookshare's website.

This engaging reading website offers hundreds of interactive games, books, videos, and printables - all for free!

With popular titles (including those from the much-loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid multi-book collection), your pre-k to 8th grade child will have plenty to read and enjoy.

Browse by grade level and find what you need to keep your child engaged and learning at home.

Powered by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), this online reading program is full of amazing resources that are sure to excite homeschooling parents.

Search by grade to find a great curriculum full of extensive lesson plans, activities and printables - all ready to go for your K-12 child.

How to encourage struggling readers

Every child's reading journey looks different. For some, reading just takes longer to click.

Keep your child encouraged and promote a love of learning with these tips.

1. Use picture books and visualizing

Even if your child is getting older, picture books will always have their place. Using pictures to improve understanding is a great way to boost your child's reading confidence.

2. Use audio stories

Books tell amazing stories. From fantasy to nonfiction, there's so much to learn from a great book. Play audiobooks as your child learns to read, to keep them interested in everything books have to offer.

3. Track student progress

It's too easy to miss the steps your child has made towards reading if they're struggling and behind their peers. Take some time to celebrate their progress as they figure it all out.

4. Practice reading aloud

Many kids get nervous reading out loud to others. Encourage your child to practice with you to improve their reading skills. And continue reading out loud to your child to help them gain confidence.

5. Use quizzes and make them fun

If your child is struggling with reading comprehension, find out what's not sticking with fun, trivia-style quizzes.

Have prizes ready (ice cream is always a hit), celebrate correct answers with dance parties, and learn together as your child increases their comprehension skills.

6. Encourage kids to teach others

If you have pre-k kids in your home, or friends with younger children, get together for a child-led story time.

Reluctant and struggling readers sometimes need a reminder of how far they've come. Suggest acting out the story as they go, to keep everyone active and increase comprehension.

7. Use questions and answers

Read together to help their reading stick, stopping often to review story highlights.

Ask questions like, "how do you think this character is feeling?" or "what do you think will happen next?" to avoid them shutting down or just repeating back the words on the page.

Use educational games to improve reading skills

Technology is a huge part of today's educational landscape. Children are learning more online than ever before, and multi-sensory, interactive resources are perfect for learners of all types.
Want more online resources to help your child develop their reading skills? Try Prodigy English!
In this all-new adventure, kids can explore and create a world of their very own as they meet new characters, earn coins and build a home. Create your free parent account today!

Over the last few years, digital learning technology has boomed. Now, more than ever, you can find high-quality educational programs online - and many of them are free!

If your pre-k, kindergarten or elementary child needs extra reading practice, put those tablet screens to good use and check out an online reading program.

These free or low-cost reading websites and apps feature digital libraries to help learners master letter sounds, sight words and reading comprehension without frustration.

Online reading programs are an excellent way to ignite a lifelong love of reading. Once a child can read, they can go anywhere on their reading journey. So let's go!

Assess your child's reading level before jumping in

Before you get started with an online reading program, it's important to know your child's current reading level, which may or may not line up with their grade level.

If your child is in a traditional school, check with their teacher. They should be able to give you a breakdown of where your child is and what they need to work on.

If you're homeschooling, start slightly below where you think your child is. Jumping too far ahead is likely to cause frustration, but lessons kids can quickly run through are confidence-boosting when starting out. Since many programs are gamified and interactive, the excitement of "winning" will help encourage more reading time.

Just be sure to not go too simple. If your preschooler is mastering digraphs (two-letter sounds like sh, ph, or oo), starting them on the more basic phonics can quickly get boring. Take some time to read with your child or watch them complete a few lessons of their online program and you'll quickly gather an idea of where they are in their learning.

No matter your child's current reading level, don't be afraid to tackle books above their level together. Reading aloud is a great way to expose children to new words and interesting stories.

A love of reading is built on fantastic stories. Reading with you, or even listening to audiobooks, are great ways to encourage a love of books - especially if your child encounters frustrations while learning to read solo.

The 15 best online reading programs to help build comprehension

Here are our top 14 picks for online reading programs. From phonics instruction to vast digital libraries, these online reading resources will keep kids excited about learning!

Prodigy's brand-new adventure introduces kids to a world filled with adventures, wishes and more ways to practice reading and language skills.

As your child plays, they'll answer questions that help them gain more energy. Players can use their energy to gather resources from an open world, craft items, earn coins and build their very own village!

Prodigy English is a great way to motivate kids to practice their language skills in a fun, engaging environment. Create a free parent account to get started today.

Price: Free, with optional paid Membership

Starfall is an excellent reading program for younger students, from pre-k through 3rd grade. It uses cute animated characters, songs and interactive games to teach phonics basics.

Starfall is particularly great for helping kids with reading challenges, such as dyslexia. It's untimed and stress-free, and uses plenty of positive reinforcement to help build up childrens' reading confidence.
Price: access some free content, or unlock all resources for $35 USD per year.
If your child is starting to read on their own, give them access to unlimited books with the Epic reading library. Epic is great for beginning readers, and will grow with your child as their reading improves.

This online tool recommends books based on your child's reading level and interests. It offers a selection of "read to me" books, with an easy-to-use dictionary feature to help their skills grow. Your child will be encouraged to continue reading as they earn badges for their achievements!
Price: basic membership includes one free book every day. Unlimited plans are $9.99 USD per month or $79.99 USD per year.
You know the importance of reading aloud to your kids, but some days it's hard to find the time. Not to worry - with Storyline Online, your child can enjoy books read by some of the biggest celebrities in Hollywood.

Each story includes an animated video to accompany the actor. There's also an included activity guide to help you discuss the story together!

This reading program's educational games cover a wide range of subjects, including early reading and language arts. Explore games by subject and age level, from pre-k to 6th grade.

Some features are available for free, but for ad-free play and an improved mobile experience, you'll need a premium plan. Luckily, the website lets you explore all of its learning games before committing to a paid plan.
Price: ABCYa offers a free plan with ads, or purchase a premium plan for $9.99 USD per month or $69.99 USD per year.
If you're a teacher or a homeschooling parent, you need to explore this reading website.

ReadWorks has a variety of engaging, well-written text to correspond with whatever your K-12 child is studying. These topics cover both non-fiction and literary assignments, complete with question sets and vocabulary practice.

And if your child is struggling with reading, ReadWorks provides a feature called StepReads. This presents the same information as the original text, but in a simpler way. Instead of "dumbing down" the topic, ReadWorks teaches the same material (including vocabulary words), no matter your child's reading level.

StoryPlace is designed to bring the library story time experience home. Perfect for pre-k children, this reading website combines stories with movement, activities and songs.

The videos accompanying each book are bright and colorful, and a crafty hands-on activity is suggested with each story. If you have littles, give this free resource a look.

If you want to help your child learn to read, visit Oxford Owl for some amazing, confidence-boosting guides for parents. These guides break down how phonics works, share learning at home tips and explain reading comprehension milestones from pre-k to age 11.

And don't forget to explore their free digital library with a huge variety of tablet-friendly reads!

PebbleGo is a research resource for early elementary children. It has a variety of texts on animals, science and history with a read-along feature for struggling readers. However, this online resource requires a school sign-on code. Check it out and suggest it to your local school to gain access to this wonderful online library.
Price: available at home for free with plans available for a schoolwide subscription.
If your struggling reader loves a good story, keep that love alive with audiobooks.

From classic fairy tales to Greek myths, your child can explore the world with a wide variety of audiobooks from Storynory.

Each book includes a transcript so kids can follow along. The website has quite a few ads, but all stories can be downloaded to keep your child listening ad-free. Or try their app for an ad-free display.

Vooks wants to help your child get excited about reading. It combines great stories with beautiful animation to help your child discover the magic of books. It's the healthy, ad-free screen time you need.
Price: sign up for a 7-day free trial, then pay $4.99 USD per month or $49.99 USD per year.
Khan Academy is still one of the best online learning resources for, well, anything.

For early readers, explore the new Khan Academy Kids! This self-paced, personalized program is perfect for little ones ages 2 to 6.

Or if your older child is looking for extra reading help, head to the original Khan Academy site. You'll find personalized reading instruction for your 2nd grader and beyond. Practice reading comprehension in a self-paced, safe place and watch them grow.

Not everyone learns to read at the same time, and some people encounter more barriers to reading than others. Bookshare knows the most important thing is to enjoy the books and learning, no matter the format.

Bookshare provides audiobooks, with highlighted text, to its learners. Its library offers over a million titles to choose from, accessible on almost any device.

Price: free for qualifying US students. Learn more on Bookshare's website.

This engaging reading website offers hundreds of interactive games, books, videos, and printables - all for free!

With popular titles (including those from the much-loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid multi-book collection), your pre-k to 8th grade child will have plenty to read and enjoy.

Browse by grade level and find what you need to keep your child engaged and learning at home.

Powered by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), this online reading program is full of amazing resources that are sure to excite homeschooling parents.

Search by grade to find a great curriculum full of extensive lesson plans, activities and printables - all ready to go for your K-12 child.

How to encourage struggling readers

Every child's reading journey looks different. For some, reading just takes longer to click.

Keep your child encouraged and promote a love of learning with these tips.

1. Use picture books and visualizing

Even if your child is getting older, picture books will always have their place. Using pictures to improve understanding is a great way to boost your child's reading confidence.

2. Use audio stories

Books tell amazing stories. From fantasy to nonfiction, there's so much to learn from a great book. Play audiobooks as your child learns to read, to keep them interested in everything books have to offer.

3. Track student progress

It's too easy to miss the steps your child has made towards reading if they're struggling and behind their peers. Take some time to celebrate their progress as they figure it all out.

4. Practice reading aloud

Many kids get nervous reading out loud to others. Encourage your child to practice with you to improve their reading skills. And continue reading out loud to your child to help them gain confidence.

5. Use quizzes and make them fun

If your child is struggling with reading comprehension, find out what's not sticking with fun, trivia-style quizzes.

Have prizes ready (ice cream is always a hit), celebrate correct answers with dance parties, and learn together as your child increases their comprehension skills.

6. Encourage kids to teach others

If you have pre-k kids in your home, or friends with younger children, get together for a child-led story time.

Reluctant and struggling readers sometimes need a reminder of how far they've come. Suggest acting out the story as they go, to keep everyone active and increase comprehension.

7. Use questions and answers

Read together to help their reading stick, stopping often to review story highlights.

Ask questions like, "how do you think this character is feeling?" or "what do you think will happen next?" to avoid them shutting down or just repeating back the words on the page.

Use educational games to improve reading skills

Technology is a huge part of today's educational landscape. Children are learning more online than ever before, and multi-sensory, interactive resources are perfect for learners of all types.
Want more online resources to help your child develop their reading skills? Try Prodigy English!
In this all-new adventure, kids can explore and create a world of their very own as they meet new characters, earn coins and build a home. Create your free parent account today!

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15 Effective and Engaging Online Reading Websites and Programs That Kids Need

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Over the last few years, digital learning technology has boomed. Now, more than ever, you can find high-quality educational programs online - and many of them are free! If your pre-k, kindergarten or elementary child needs extra reading practice, put those tablet screens to good use and check out an online reading program.

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Fun With Phonics! | Over One Hour of Fun Phonics Songs for Kids! | Jack Hartmann

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How to Teach Phonological Awareness - Part 1

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Edutopia provides teachers with research-based strategies and practical tools to enhance phonics instruction in the classroom. Their resources include lesson plans, video tutorials, and tips on creating an engaging, phonics-rich environment to support early literacy development.

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Strategies for a Strong Start to Phonics Lessons

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Cumulative review and retrieval practice are flexible strategies to move students toward being fluent, automatic readers.

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Khan Academy offers a free, interactive resource to help students build foundational phonics skills through engaging videos and practice exercises. This resource is designed to guide learners step-by-step, reinforcing letter-sound connections and improving reading fluency at their own pace.

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Free, fun educational app for young kids | Khan Academy Kids

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Inspire a lifetime of learning with our educational app for kids ages 2-8. Kids can learn reading, writing, math, counting, ABCs, addition, subtraction, social-emotional skills, & more. 100% free on iPhone, iPad, Android, and Amazon

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A closer LooA Closer Look at the Five Essential
Components of Effective Reading
Instruction: A Review of
Scientifically Based Reading
Research for Teachers k at the Five Components of Effective 

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"Unlock the Secrets to Effective Reading Instruction: A Deep Dive into the 5 Key Components Every Teacher Needs – Published by Learning Point Associates."

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"Unlock the Secrets to Effective Reading Instruction: A Deep Dive into the 5 Key Components Every Teacher Needs – Published by Learning Point Associates."

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A closer Look at the Five Components of Effective 

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For Educators : Do you know the difference Phonemes VS Phonics 

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For Educators : Do you know the difference Phonemes VS Phonics 

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Test your knowledge here and leran more about how to support your scholars!

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Phonological and Phonemic Awareness: Pre-Test

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Explore reading basics as well as the key role of background knowledge and motivation in becoming a lifelong reader and learner. Watch our PBS Launching Young Readers series and try our self-paced Reading 101 course to deepen your understanding.

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44 phonemes

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet that make up 44 speech sounds, or phonemes. Listen here to the 44 phonemes!

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"Fun with Phonemic Awareness: Engaging Activities for Little Learners!"

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"Fun with Phonemic Awareness: Engaging Activities for Little Learners!"

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Engaging in activities with young children at home helps reinforce learning by providing real-world experiences that deepen their understanding of concepts. These activities also promote stronger parent-child connections, as they create opportunities for bonding and shared learning experiences. According to a study by Henderson and Mapp (2002), "When parents are actively involved in their children's education, it leads to greater academic achievement, improved behavior, and increased motivation."

APA Reference: Henderson, A. T., & Mapp, K. L. (2002). A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family, and community connections on student achievement. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.

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Overview

Phonological awareness

Phonological awareness is the ability to hear, recognize, and play with the sounds in spoken language. By second grade, most children have mastered the more basic skills, including rhyming, syllables, alliteration, and beaking a sentence into words.

Phonemic awareness

The most sophisticated phonological awareness skill (and the last to develop) is called phonemic awareness - the ability to hear, recognize, and play with the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. When playing with the sounds in word, children learn to:

Blend individual sounds to make a word

Stretch out a word into its individual sounds

Swap in a different sound to the beginning, middle, or end of a word to make a new word

Strong phonemic awareness is one of the strongest predictors of later reading success. Children who struggle with reading, including kids with dyslexia, often have trouble with phonemic awareness, but with the right kind of instruction they can be successful. Learn some of the warning signs for dyslexia in this article, Clues to Dyslexia from Second Grade On.

Some second graders need extra help to master phonemic awareness skills. If you are concerned, check with your child's teacher or the reading specialist at school.

Parents can make a difference by helping their children practice the more advanced word sound skills at home. Try some of the simple word sound games described here.

Why phonemic awareness is the key to learning how to read

This video is from Home Reading Helper, a resource for parents to elevate children's reading at home provided by Read Charlotte . Find more video, parent activities, printables, and other resources at Home Reading Helper .

Try these speech sound activities at home

Syllable shopping

While at the grocery store, have your child tell you the syllables in different food names. Have them hold up a finger for each word part. For your second grader, look for three- and four-syllable words, such as pineapple = pine-ap-ple, three syllables, or watermelon =wa-ter-mel-on, four syllables.

Word families

Word families are sets of words that rhyme. Start to build your family by giving your child the first word, for example, king. Then ask your child to name all the "kids" in the king family, such as: ring, sing, ding, wing. Challenge your child to also name words with blends at the beginning, such as hing, bring, sting, string. This will help your child hear patterns in words.

Jump, skip, hop!

Create simple picture cards that you draw or cut out of magazines. Have your child, identify what's in the picture, and then break that word into its individual sounds. For example ship sh-i-p, three sounds (phonemes). Three sounds? You and your child do three jumping jacks, skips, or hops (followed by a high-five). You can also do this game outdoors without the cards, just call out simple words for your child.

My sound is missing!

Take some words and ask your child what happens when some of the sounds go missing. For example, what happens to boat when I take away the /b/ sound ( oat)? What happens to sweep when I take away the /s/ sound ( weep)? What happens to teach when I take away the /ch/ sound ( tea)? What happens to laughing when I take away the /ing/ sound ( laugh)? Start with easy ones and see how challenging you can make them.

Lightning round

Try this fast-paced game at night. Grab a flashlight and with the lights out shine it on an object in the room. Ask your child to tell you how may syllables in that word has and to find a rhyming word (it can be a nonsense word!). With some words, you can extend the game and try sound swaps. Ask your child to tell you the new word if you change a sound from the beginning, middle, or end of the word. For example, what happens to chair if you change /ch/ to /b/ ( bear).

Swap it

Tell your child you're going to play "sound swap" with the word swap and create new words by changing out the beginning, middle, and ending sounds in words. Ask your child what happens if you change the last sound from /p/ to /n/ - what's the new word (swan)? What if you swap the /w/ sound to /t/ or /h/ - what's the new word (stop, shop)? And what if you change the /a/ sound to /ee/ - what's the new word (sweet)? You can do play sound swap with lots of other words, for example: sheep > sweep, sweep > sweet, sheep > shop.

Medial phoneme dominoes

Try this activity from the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR). The FCRR "At Home" series was developed especially for families! Watch the video and then download the activity: Medial Phoneme Dominoes . See all FCRR phonemic awareness activities here .

Phoneme counting sort

Try this activity from the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR). The FCRR "At Home" series was developed especially for families! Watch the video and then download the activity: Phoneme Counting Sort . See all FCRR phonemic awareness activities here .

Phoneme challenge

Try this activity from the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR). The FCRR "At Home" series was developed especially for families! Watch the video and then download the activity: Phoneme Challenge . See all FCRR phonemic awareness activities here .

More phonological and phonemic awareness resources

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Phonological and Phonemic Awareness: Activities for Your Second Grader

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Phonological and phonemic awareness are important pre-reading skills, related to the ability to hear, identify, and play with the sounds in spoken language - including rhymes, syllables, and the smallest units of sound (phonemes). Strong phonological awareness skills continue to support reading development in second grade and beyond.

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Method: This method is called "The Phonics Dance" or "Kinesthetic Phonics." It combines physical movement with learning sounds to help reinforce auditory processing through motor skills. The method capitalizes on the brain's ability to associate physical actions with cognitive concepts, which enhances retention and understanding.

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Segmenting Phonemes | Phonemic Awareness Song