Kids Having Trouble With Reading and Spelling?

 Dyslexia In Children  No Responses »
Nov 052010
 

Learning to read is a milestone in every child’s education. Most children begin to read at six or seven years of age, but for some children who have trouble grasping the alphabet, phonetics, and the letter and word decoding required for reading success, a new Internet program can help.

ClickN KIDS, Inc, an Agoura Hills, CA based firm that develops online educational software, has introduced ClickN READ Phonics. ClickN READ Phonics contains 100 precisely sequenced, research based lessons designed by nationally recognized research professor Dr. J. Ron Nelson. The result is a beginning reading program that is beyond compare and has redefined computer based instruction. It is the first of it’s kind to simulate live instruction. Each lesson is taught by ClickN KID, a goofy and lovable “Dog of the future.” ClickN KID helps children gently through a learning journey of systematic lessons set in colorful, futuristic classrooms. Each lesson contains four engaging learning environments that progressively teach alphabetic understanding, phonemic awareness, decoding, and word recognition.

The program is designed for children as young as 4 years old and teaches the complete K-3rd grade phonics curriculum taught at USA public schools. The lead-model- test system allows children to use the lessons on their own with little or no parent or teacher guidance. Children who are learning to read English for the first time, those who are struggling with reading and children with learning disabilities should use the program. Adults who are learning English as a second language are even using the program.

Everything needed is built into the program. It is the only product needed to learn to read English. Lessons run 15 to 30 minutes. Each lesson systematically builds on the previous one and prepares the child for the next lesson. The program’s uncomplicated interface makes it easy to use for nearly any age. Control panel screens allow easy set up and access to progress reports and many other features . The graphics and short animated segments are vibrant, but without unnecessary bells and whistles keeping children focused on the lessons.

The program is used online just like viewing standard web pages. It can be used at home, at Grandma’s, at the office or while on vacation. There are no out-of-date CD ROM’s, broken videos, lost flash cards or other cost and time-intensive obstructions to interfere with quality and consistent instruction. There is no setup, training or program software to install and no waiting for shipping. You can begin using ClickN READ Phonics immediately after ordering.

ClickN READ Phonics represents the best in curriculum, the best in computer technology and the best in program design for ease of use. And best of all, kids love it! All other phonics products and programs are simply toys when compared to ClickN READ Phonics. For homes, the cost is only $59.85 for a LIFETIME subscription for one child and just $19.95 for each additional child. All subscriptions come with a 60-day money back guarantee.

Don’t put your child’s future on hold. Try ClickN READ Phonics in your Home Today!

Multi-Sensory Approaches to the Remediation of Reading Deficits in Children

 Dyslexia In Children  No Responses »
Mar 122010
 

There are several different theories and approaches to teaching a child to read and to possible interventions should a reading deficit such as dyslexia be suspected. Of these, one of the most common approaches agreed on by researchers is a multi-sensory approach.

Multi-sensory approaches such as the Orton-Gillingham Approach and the Association Method address several facets of oral and written language in a structured and interactive and cumulative way. Areas that are addressed include vocabulary, phonological awareness, decoding skills, reading comprehension and spelling as well as effective strategies.

The International Dyslexia Association has produced a downloadable matrix of the multi-sensory structured language programs available. Feel free to DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

The programs included is not exhaustive but does include those that use a tiered approach to learning. What this means is that there are three levels of instruction that would either involve a whole group and would be used as a preventative measure, small groups or more intenstive one-on-one help for those with severe reading deficits.

A simple way to try out multi-sensory approach is to try a text-to-speech software product. Although designed for adults to allow the reading and hearing of a text simultaneously, some children’s books are available electronically as well so you could try this approach. Alternatively, you could imput some text in Word or as a simple text file (for example) to allow you child to practice following the words while listening. An example of such a program is “Voice Reader“.
I am not going to advocate either of these approaches as it is not my place to do so. This is because I believe that each child is different and what will work well for one, may not for another. This is based on some of my own research with adults and children that shows that if a child is reading using different processes to another child it is logical that a ‘blanket’ intervention approach using just one system just can not work effectively. It is also important for a parent to make their own decisions based on their own personal investigations as it will be their child who would be involved in any program.

There are several different theories and approaches to teaching a child to read and to possible interventions should a reading deficit such as dyslexia be suspected. Of these, one of the most common approaches agreed on by researchers is a multi-sensory approach. Multi-sensory approaches such as the Orton-Gillingham Approach and the Association Method address several facets of oral and written language in a structured and interactive and cumulative way. Areas that are addressed include vocabulary, phonological awareness, decoding skills, reading comprehension and spelling as well as effective strategies. The International Dyslexia Association has produced a downloadable matrix of the multi-sensory structured language programs available. Feel free to DOWNLOAD IT HERE. The programs included is not exhaustive but does include those that use a tiered approach to learning. What this means is that there are three levels of instruction that would either involve a whole group and would be used as a preventative measure, small groups or more intenstive one-on-one help for those with severe reading deficits. A simple way to try out multi-sensory approach is to try a text-to-speech software product. Although designed for adults to allow the reading and hearing of a text simultaneously, some children’s books are available electronically as well so you could try this approach. Alternatively, you could imput some text in Word or as a simple text file (for example) to allow you child to practice following the words while listening. An example of such a program is “Voice Reader“. I am not going to advocate either of these approaches as it is not my place to do so. This is because I believe that each child is different and what will work well for one, may not for another. This is based on some of my own research with adults and children that shows that if a child is reading using different processes to another child it is logical that a ‘blanket’ intervention approach using just one system just can not work effectively. It is also important for a parent to make their own decisions based on their own personal investigations as it will be their child who would be involved in any program. " />