Building a Strong Foundation for Reading Success in Young Children

2025-11-20T15:38:20+00:00

Reading success begins long before a child opens their first book. A key predictor of literacy achievement is phonological awareness—the ability to hear, recognize, and manipulate the sounds that make up spoken words. Without this foundation, children may face significant challenges in learning to read and spell. By fostering phonological awareness at home and in early education, adults can give children the tools they need to thrive as confident readers. Commonwealth Learning Center (CLC) specializes in supporting children with learning differences and helping families nurture early literacy skills. Below, we’ll explore practical strategies to use at home, why these skills [...]

Building a Strong Foundation for Reading Success in Young Children2025-11-20T15:38:20+00:00

Reading Aloud—So Much More Than Sharing a Story

2021-10-05T13:03:44+00:00

A regular read-aloud routine is wonderful for bonding and instilling a love of literature—but reading to children does so much more, from building vocabulary to fostering overall language development.Since younger children are generally only able to decode a more limited number of words, hearing words is highly impactful in expanding their vocabulary, and reading aloud can help them gain this auditory exposure. As children mature and learn to read themselves, they will be introduced to new vocabulary on their own—but older children enjoy being read to as well! It may be that a book on a high-interest topic is just beyond [...]

Reading Aloud—So Much More Than Sharing a Story2021-10-05T13:03:44+00:00

Familiar Games…With a Twist

2021-10-05T13:00:52+00:00

While keeping up with learning is important during this uncertain time, it’s also essential for families to focus on stress management. Games can be a great way to keep minds active and have some fun along the way. Participation in games can improve students’ memory and communication, as well as engage them to read words, think about vocabulary, and hone their spelling skills. Use games you have around the house to play together. This is a time to get creative with the rules—or even throw the rules out! Many game pieces on their own can be used to promote reading [...]

Familiar Games…With a Twist2021-10-05T13:00:52+00:00

Literacy Home Activities for Young Learners

2023-09-13T08:36:30+00:00

As we remain inside during these uncertain times, caregivers have become teachers—and Commonwealth Learning Center is here to help with some hands-on literacy practice ideas for young learners. Alphabet Work Here are a few activities kids can do with plastic letters or letter cards, shaving cream, and clay or pipe cleaners: Arrange letters in alphabetical order, with a model if needed. Devise a memory game to match uppercase to lowercase letters. Form letters out of clay, pipe cleaners, or Wikki Stix. Practice handwriting in a multisensory way: Place a small amount of shaving cream or flour in a baking tray. Have children form [...]

Literacy Home Activities for Young Learners2023-09-13T08:36:30+00:00

What is Decodable Text?

2021-10-07T09:12:28+00:00

The rationale for explicit and multisensory phonics instruction can no longer be ignored. Science tells us that most kids will benefit from a structured, code-based approach to learning how to read words.(1) Students with dyslexia certainly require this type of teaching, and no child is harmed by learning the sounds and syllables types of his or her own language. When students are learning to crack the code of English, we use decodable text to help them apply learned skills to reading in context. In this type of text, the majority of the words follow the regular patterns of English. Practice with decodable [...]

What is Decodable Text?2021-10-07T09:12:28+00:00

Sight Words, Decodable Words, & High Frequency Words

2021-10-07T07:10:37+00:00

“Dad, I have to practice my sight words for homework.” What is a sight word? In the elementary grades, we use several different terms to categorize types of English words: decodable words, sight words, and high-frequency words. Let’s unpack them: Type of Word Definition Examples Decodable Words Follow the regular patterns of the language. Students can “sound out” these words, so there is no need to memorize them. run, spin, make, sport, she, team, spoil, fly, bubble, harvest Sight Words Don’t follow the regular patterns of English. They don’t sound the way that they look; therefore, they must be memorized. [...]

Sight Words, Decodable Words, & High Frequency Words2021-10-07T07:10:37+00:00

What Can I Do?

2021-10-10T05:18:06+00:00

Parents and guardians often feel at a loss when children are diagnosed with dyslexia, but this doesn’t need to be the case. Supporting a student with dyslexia can be easier with these home tips that are designed for students in mainstream classes. To begin with, you can help your child with time management: Map out more than the due dates. Note when to start working on each smaller piece of larger tasks. Break assignments—whether it’s a project or studying for tests—into smaller, more manageable pieces. There is scheduling and project management software to help with this, or color code a large wall calendar. First [...]

What Can I Do?2021-10-10T05:18:06+00:00

A Parent’s Guide to Advocating for Middle & High School Students with Dyslexia

2021-10-05T13:10:26+00:00

Parents and guardians are invested in helping their children with dyslexia learn and grow, but they also might not know how to help them thrive in school. These are some quick tips for accommodations in the classroom: Extra time on tests. For a number of students with dyslexia, the information is there; however, it may take them longer to retrieve it than neurotypical readers due to slower processing skills. Advocate for additional time on tests so your children can display their depth of knowledge. Shorter assignments. Students with dyslexia are often working significantly harder than their non-dyslexic peers to produce the [...]

A Parent’s Guide to Advocating for Middle & High School Students with Dyslexia2021-10-05T13:10:26+00:00

Establishing Organized Back-to-School Routines

2021-10-05T13:07:21+00:00

Start the academic year off stress free with these back-to-school organization tips! Display a household master calendar. Discuss it with your child each day. Not only will this help with mastering the ideas of time and time management, but knowing what is coming up reduces stress for everyone. Color code school events, sports, doctor appointments, play dates, etc. Set up a designated homework area. Having a quiet place to work with school supplies at the ready will set your child up for successful homework completion. Place lined paper, a stapler, ruler, timer, index cards, and other tools in a bin. [...]

Establishing Organized Back-to-School Routines2021-10-05T13:07:21+00:00

Books That Celebrate Those Who Learn Differently

2021-10-05T13:08:34+00:00

Dyslexia Awareness Month has us thinking about our bright and resilient students who work so hard to succeed despite learning differences. We have come up with a list of uplifting books that celebrate this spirit of tenacity. Happy reading! The Back to Front World of Azzie Artbuckle  Written by Beth Montgomery Azzie wishes she could spend every day at school drawing and painting, but the teachers make her read. The trouble is, she struggles tremendously to read letters, words, and numbers. This makes her feel stupid. But she knows that she isn’t. Recommended for Grades 1-2 Help! Somebody Get me Out of Fourth [...]

Books That Celebrate Those Who Learn Differently2021-10-05T13:08:34+00:00
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Professional Development
for Educators

PTI

 
Beth

Beth Dinelli, M.Ed
Director
[email protected]

220 Reservoir Street, Suite 6 Needham, MA 02494-3133

Phone: 781.444.5193

Fax: 781.444.6916

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