Failing Students or Failing Schools?: A Parent's Guide to Reading Instruction and Intervention

by Faith Borkowsky

Overview

Is reading a struggle for your child? Does it cause your child stress or embarrassment? Are you confused by the mixed messages you receive from teachers and other professionals? Then this book is for you!

This parent-friendly book will help you understand the various causes of reading difficulties and how you can support your child. With over thirty years of experience as a teacher, reading specialist, regional literacy coach, and administrator, Faith Borkowsky explains why so many children struggle to read and what you need to know to help your child.

This book includes special sections on:

- The best, proven way to teach children to read

- Factors that can influence reading comprehension difficulties

- What you need to know if your child is receiving reading intervention

- What you can do at home to supplement your child's intervention

- How to help with homework

- And much more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937615451
Publisher:	Cardboard Box Adventures
Publication date:	06/04/2018
Pages:	124
Sales rank:	888,455
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.26(d)

About the Author

Faith Borkowsky is the founder of High Five Literacy and Academic Coaching with over thirty years of experience as a classroom teacher, reading and learning specialist, regional literacy coach, administrator, and tutor. Ms. Borkowsky is Orton-Gillingham trained and is a Wilson Certified Dyslexia Practitioner listed on the International Dyslexia Association's Provider Directory. She provides professional development for teachers and school districts, as well as parent workshops, presentations, and private consultations. Ms. Borkowsky is the author of the award-winning book, Failing Students or Failing Schools? A Parent's Guide to Reading Instruction and Intervention, Reading Intervention Behind School Walls: Why Your Child Continues to Struggle, and a series of graphic plays entitled "If Only I Would Have Known..." What I Wish My Pediatrician, Preschool Teacher, and Librarian Told Me About Language, Literacy, and Dyslexia. She is also a board member of Teach My Kid to Read, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to support and empower students, teachers, and parents through education so all kids, including those with dyslexia, learn to read.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: The Plight of Literacy in America—Why Children Continue to Struggle to Read

The Marginalization of Phonics: The Butterfly Effect, Teaching Trends in America

Chapter 2: Why the Best Methods for Teaching Reading Are Used the Least in American Schools

Teachers and Administrators Are Afraid to Speak Up, Oppositional Leadership, Resistant Teachers, Flawed Research Studies and Manipulated Data, Outside Influences Skew Assessments, Can Scientifically Research-Based Reading Programs Guarantee Success?

Chapter 3: How to Teach Children to Read

Why English Is Comparatively Difficult to Learn to Read, The Importance of a Solid Foundation, Where to Begin? Teaching Letter Names or Sounds?, Phonemic Awareness and When to Begin Teaching It, Sight Words Can Be Detrimental, Advantages of Multisensory Teaching Methods, Spelling: A Direct Connection to Reading, Is Handwriting Still Important?

Chapter 4: Reading Comprehension Issues—Possible Causes and Solutions

Stages of Reading Competence and How They Manifest in Children, Reaching Unconscious Competence in Reading, Can Your Child Really Read?, Physical and Neurological Learning Issues—APD, ADD, and Dyslexia, Other Issues That Can Cause Reading Comprehension Difficulties, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension, The Fourth-Grade Slump

Chapter 5: If Your Child Is Receiving Intervention at School—Things Parents Need to Ask

Is My Child’s Intervention Program Working the Way It’s Supposed to?, Is My Child Actually Receiving Needed Services?, Is My Child Receiving Appropriate Intervention?, Is My Child’s Progress Being Appropriately Monitored?, Is My Child Progressing Toward Proficiency?, How Often Is My Child Receiving Intervention?, Will My Child Benefit from Using Computer Programs?, Should I Hire a Private Tutor for My Child?, What if I Can’t Afford a Tutor but Feel My Child Needs One?

Chapter 6: Reading Intervention in the Home—What Parents Can Do to Help

Visual Discrimination Development, Let’s Put Our Phones Down and Talk, Reading Ability and Self-Esteem, A Winning Attitude for Reading Success, Intention and Awareness: Return on Investment, Alternative Treatments for Reading and Writing Difficulties

Chapter 7: The Involved Parent—Helping with Homework

Improving Memory, Messy Thinking, Essay Writing: A Structured Approach, The Most Effective Study Strategies, The Value of Play

Chapter 8: af-FLUENT™ Learning for All

Attitude, Focus, Facts and Foundational Skills, Language, Use It or Lose It, Engagement, Nail the Important Ideas, Talk, Test Yourself, and Teach It to Others

Editorial Reviews

"If there was a bible for reading, this should be it. Comprehensive, accessible and packed full of common sense."--Wishing Shelf Book Awards

"Faith Borkowsky has an extraordinary grasp of the actual complexities and details of infrastructures, budgets, schedules, biases, [the] paucity of adequate and accurate professional development, etc. in our schools and how these impact reading instruction for Pre K-12." --Sally Grimes, Educator

"This book has become one of my most valued resources! I love that it not only includes information on missed teaching opportunities, but it also provides us with knowledge on what we can do to help our struggling readers. This book highlights how important it is for both parents and leaders to be involved. Parents must be proactive, and leaders must provide appropriate training. My favorite chapter, "Reading Comprehension Issues--Possible Causes and Solutions," is one I highly recommend!" --Dr. Agata Kaminska, Educator

A Wishing Shelf Book Award 2018 Silver Medal Winner

From the Publisher