The Tools to Achieve Reading Success

Effective ~ Affordable ~ Easy-to-Use

Free Reading Information and Resources

for Parents and Teachers

This page provides FREE information, articles, activities, tools and resources related to effectively teaching children and students how to read proficiently. This information is provided to empower parents & teachers so they can help their children or students achieve reading and spelling success.

The articles and resources are organized into the following sections: (CLICK on the section title or scroll down the page to view the articles and resources within the topic area)

I.  Overview of Reading

• Learning to Read
• How Reading Works
• The Science of Proficient Reading
• Outline & Description of Necessary Skills
• Background on English Language
• Why Direct Systematic Phonics is Effective

II.   Foundational  Skills

• Establishing Phonologic Processing
• Phonemic Awareness
• Knowledge of Phonemic Code
• Directional Tracking
• Smooth Blending
• Attention to Detail

III.  Advanced ~ Higher Level Skills

• How to Develop Advanced Skills
• Building Fluency
• Developing Comprehension
• Expanding Vocabulary Knowledge
• Handling Multisyllable Words

IV.  Reading Difficulty/Dyslexia &

Effective Reading Remediation

• Students Who Face Reading  Difficulty/Dyslexia
• Common Reading Problems
• Evaluating Reading Difficulties
• Elements Effective Reading Remediation
• Helping Students Build Necessary Skills & Overcome Reading Difficulty

V. Teaching Reading Skills ~   Instructional Information & Resources for Parents & Teachers

• Effective Reading & Spelling Activities
• Useful Tips
• Helpful Tools (phonics phones & sound tiles)
• Ideas for Teaching Direct Systematic Phonics

Translating Research Into Applications YOU Can Use

CLICK to discover numerous resources for effectively teaching direct systematic phonics to students

VI. Other Articles/Valuable Info

• Recommended Reading
• Selecting Appropriate Reading Material
• Overcoming Letter Confusion
• Speech Tips
• Pronunciation Guide  .... and more!

VII. Links

• Recommended Links for info & resources on teaching children and students to read.
• Right Track Reading encourages parents & teachers to explore these sites. Learn More!

I. Overview of Teaching Children to Read, Background on How Proficient Reading Works & Information on the Skills Necessary for Proficient Reading: START with these articles!

Understanding Proficient Reading

• Overview of Teaching Children to Read: Why Reading is Difficult and What You Need to Do to Make Sure Your Child Learns to Read Proficiently
• How Reading Works: The Biologic Process of Proficient Reading and Exciting Scientific Proof - We CAN Help Students Learn to Read Proficiently
• Overview and Visual Representation of the Process of Proficient Reading: Graphic Outline of Skills Necessary to Develop Proficient Reading  
• Skills Necessary for Proficient Reading: Explanation of Both Foundational Skills to Develop Phonologic Processing and Higher Level Skills to Advance to Proficient Reading  
• Important Background Facts on Written English Language Essential to Effective Reading Instruction

Information on Reading Instruction

• Direct Systematic Phonics Instruction is Proven Effective: Why Parents and Teachers Should Use Direct Systematic Phonics
• Key Strategies for Effective Reading Instruction
• What Exactly is Direct Systematic Phonics? How can I tell if a reading program uses an effective direct systematic phonics approach?
• More About Direct Instruction Methods in Teaching Reading and Why Children Often Fail to Learn with Indirect Instruction
• What are Some of the Common Less  Effective Approaches to Reading Instruction?
• The Facts: Direct Systematic Phonics IS the Most Effective Way to Teach Children to Read
• The Equation for Reading Success

II. Building Foundational Reading Skills ~ Developing Phonologic Processing ~ Building the foundational skills essential for developing phonologic processing pathways ..establishing the foundation for proficient reading

Introduction/Overview of Developing Phonologic Processing

• What Proficient Reading Looks Like! Overview and Visual Representation of the Process of Proficient Reading - Graphic Outline of Skills Necessary to Develop Proficient Reading
• Foundational Skills Necessary for Proficient Phonologic Processing: Overview and Explanation
• Elements of an Effective Beginning Reading Program: How to Help Children Establish a Strong Foundation of Correct Phonologic Processing

Developing Phonemic Awareness (PA) or Phonologic Awareness

• Phonemic Awareness Explained: What Phonemic Awareness Is, Why Phonemic Awareness is Important, and Linking Phonemic Awareness to Print
• Check your child’s phonemic awareness! Evaluation of Phonemic Awareness: A FREE Informal Tool for Checking Phonemic Awareness
• Fun Activities to Help Your Child Develop Phonemic Awareness
• More Activities to Develop Phonemic Awareness

Building Direct Print to Sound Knowledge of the Phonemic Code (Phonics)

• The Building Blocks of Written English - The Phonemic Code: Why Knowledge of the Complete Phonemic Code is Important to Proficient Reading and How to Help Students Learn the Complete and Accurate Phonemic Code ~ Teaching Phonics  
• Help Your Child Learn the Phonemic Code: Free, Fun and Highly Effective Games You Can Play to Teach Direct Automatic Knowledge of the Phonemic Code  
• Effective Multisensory Activities for Teaching the Complete Phonemic Code  

Establishing Proper Directional Tracking

• Directional Tracking Explained: Why Directional Tracing Is Essential for Reading Development and How to Teach Your Child or Student Correct Directional Tracking  

Teaching Students to Blend Sounds Smoothly

• Blending Explained: Why Smooth Blending is Important to Reading Development and How to Help Students Develop the Ability to Smoothly Blend Sounds Together When Reading  

Establishing the Foundation of Proficient Phonologic Processing of Print  (reading by sounding out words!)

• Decodable Text Explained: What Decodable Text Is, Why Decodable Text is Important in Beginning Reading and How to Select Decodable Text   
• Activities for Establishing Phonologic Processing of Print  

Developing Attention to Detail

• Key Points and Activities for Developing Attention to Detail

III. Advanced Reading Skills ~ Developing Higher Level Reading Skills & Strengthening higher level reading skills so your child or student becomes a skilled reader

Overview of Advanced or Higher Level Reading Skills ~ What it takes to become a skilled reader!

• Advanced Skills Necessary for Proficient Reading: Overview of Key Higher Level or Advanced Reading Skills

Fluency

• Reading Fluency Explained: What Reading Fluency Is, How Fluent Reading is Developed and How to Help Your Child or Student Become a Fluent Reader

Comprehension

• Developing Reading Comprehension: Overview of Reading Comprehension and Specific Actions to Help Students Develop Comprehension

Vocabulary Knowledge

• Expanding Vocabulary Knowledge: How to Help Your Child or Student Expand Their Vocabulary Knowledge

Handling Multi-syllable Words

• Handling Multi-syllable words: Helping Students Learn How to Read Multisyllable Words

Highly Effective Technique for Advancing Reading Skills

• The Importance of Guided Reading! The Significant Benefits of Guided Reading and Specific Instructions on How to Help Your Child or Student Advance Reading Skills  

IV. Difficulties Reading and Overcoming Reading Difficulties (Dyslexia)

• Students Who Face Difficulties Learning to Read: Information on Reading Problems and Dyslexia                      If Your Child or Student Struggles With Reading, please READ THIS ARTICLE!  
• Common Reading Problems: How to Identify Common Reading Problems and Target Instruction to Help Struggling Readers Develop Necessary Skills
• Actual Reading Errors Made By Struggling Readers, What These Errors May Indicate, How to Evaluate Reading Errors to Identify Deficiencies and Target Instruction to Build Necessary Skills
• The Importance of Evaluations in Reading Remediation: How to Conduct Reading Evaluations
• How to Help a Student Who Struggles With Reading Overcome Their Reading Difficulties and Achieve Reading Success
• Elements of an Effective Reading Remediation Program to Improve Reading Skills in Struggling Readers
• What Baseball Batting, A Terrific Dad and a Bucket Can Teach Us About Reading: A Real Life Example of How Essential Fundamental Skills are Important to Success and How Direct Instruction in Details CAN Help a Child Achieve Success
• The Importance of Guided Reading
• Explaining an Effective Reading Remediation Program to the Student  

V. Teaching Reading Skills ~  Instructional Resources and Information for Parents & Teachers

 Translating reading research into applications YOU can use!

Discover Numerous Articles and Useful Reading Resources

VI. Other Articles and Valuable Information

• Reading About Reading: A Partial List of Recommended Books to Expand Your Knowledge of Reading
• A Terrific FREE Resource for Parents and Teachers
• Selecting Level Appropriate Reading Material to Help Students Improve Reading Skills: How to choose reading level appropriate books for your child.
• Tips for Helping Children Pronounce Specific Sounds  (Some children have difficulty saying certain sounds, this provides tips for helping children pronounce sounds.)
• A Mom-Designed and Kid-Tested Solution to Help Students Overcome b,d, p letter confusion
• Information on Reading Difficulty (dyslexia) and Vision  
• Summary of Key Reading Research Findings and Links to Reading Research

VII. Recommended Links

This page contains links to access information and resources on teaching children and students to read. Right Track Reading encourages parents and teachers to explore these sites and to research additional information on teaching children to read, the science of proficient reading, the valid evidence based research and the proven effectiveness of direct systematic phonics.

All articles are intentionally written to empower parents & teachers with information to help their children or students achieve reading success. All articles are copyrighted by Miscese R. Gagen. Please see Terms of Use

All articles are intentionally written to empower parents and teachers with information and resources to help their children or students achieve reading success. All articles are copyrighted by Miscese R. Gagen. Please see Terms of Use

The tools to achieve reading success!

Copyright 2004-2013  Miscese R. Gagen ~ All Rights Reserved ~