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