Free Reading Information and Effective Resources

SECTION I: Overview of Reading – – Essential Background Knowledge to Understand Proficient Reading of Printed English & How Students Learn to Read

Before teaching students to read and designing instructional activities, it is important to understand the actual process of proficient reading, recognize the linguistic background facts of the written English language, learn the complex set of specific skills necessary for proficient reading, discover how students learn to read and why learning to read is challenging for many children, and importantly learn how to design and implement effective reading instruction so our children & students develop proficient reading. Click on the free reading information listed below to learn more.     

Understand how proficient reading works…   Discover the neural ‘map’ of proficient reading…    Recognize key background facts about our printed English language…   Learn how children learn to read and why reading is challenging for many students

• How Reading Works: The Neurobiologic Process of Proficient Reading and Exciting Scientific Proof – We CAN Help Students Learn to Read Proficiently! Learn what neuroscience reveals about the process of proficient reading & reading difficulty. Discover the ‘map to proficient reading’!

• Important Background Facts on Written English Language Essential to Effective Reading Instruction -Understanding the “nature of the beast”  We must deal with these linguistic facts when reading printed English 

• Overview About Children Learning to Read & Developing Proficient Reading: Why Reading Is Difficult for Many Children and How To Make Sure Your Student Develops Proficient Reading    

View the complex set of skills students must master & integrate to read proficiently.  These articles explain the specific skills necessary for proficient reading. 

• Overview and Visual Representation of Skills & Overall Processes Required for Proficient Reading -A ‘quick view’ graphic outline describing the skills necessary & process involved to develop proficient reading h 

• Skills Necessary for Proficient Reading: Explanation of Foundational Skills for Phonologic Processing and Higher-Level Skills to Advance to Proficient Reading  More detailed description and explanation of all skills required for proficient reading    

Learn Important Background Information on Teaching Children & Students to Read and Effective Reading Instruction 

• Direct Systematic Phonics Instruction is Proven Effective: Why Parents and Teachers Should Use Direct Systematic Phonics It Works! Learn details about the valid evidence-based research and neuroscience verifying the effectiveness of direct systematic phonics.

• Key Strategies for Effective Reading Instruction: Overview of Elements Essential to Effective Reading Instruction Review the components of effective reading instruction that help students successfully learn to read.

• The Equation for Reading Success  A general explanation of the two essential components needed for ensuring our children and students achieve reading success. 

SECTION II:  Establishing the Foundation of Proficient Phonologic Processing of Print Required for Reading Success

To read proficiently, students MUST convert print to sound (read by sounding out words!). Correct phonologic processing is a complex process and requires integration of many different fundamental subskills.  To process print phonologically, the student must recognize the sound structure of language (phonemic awareness), directly and automatically know the phonemic code (knowledge of the complete code). They must process print from left to right (tracking), smoothly combine sounds (blending) and pay close attention to all the letters in the words (attention to detail).

This section includes informational articles, useful resources and ‘how to’ details for parents and teachers to build these essential subskills as well to establish essential phonologic processing. Learning isolated skills is not sufficient. The student must master, integrate, and apply these subskills in establishing/developing correct proficient phonologic processing.  The articles listed below share the ‘nuts and bolts’ details to build skills and establish this essential foundation of proficient reading. Click on the free reading information listed below to learn more.     

Developing Phonemic Awareness (PA) or Phonologic Awareness

• Phonemic Awareness Explained: What Phonemic Awareness Is, Why Teaching Phonemic Awareness is Important, and Linking Phonemic Awareness to Print  

• Fun Activities to Help Your Young Child Develop Phonemic Awareness  – Also Known as Fun Sound Games to Build Phonemic Awareness Skills

• Free Effective Activities Parents & Teachers Can Use to Develop Phonemic Awareness in their Children & Students 

• Check Your Child’s Phonemic Awareness: A Free Informal Tool  for Evaluating Phonemic Awareness 

Building Direct Print to Sound Knowledge of the Phonemic Code (Phonics) ~ Learning the complete phonemic code!!

• 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”

• Effective Order of Presentation for Teaching the Phonemic Code: Sequence for Introducing and Teaching Letters and Sounds of the Phonemic Code to Help Students Learn

• Free & Highly Effective Multisensory Activities (Fun Sound Games) to Successfully Help Your Child or Student Learn the Complete Phonemic Code (Direct Print=Sound)

Establishing Proper Directional Tracking

• Directional Tracking Explained:  Why Directional Tracking (left-to-right processing) Is Essential for Reading Development and How to Effectively 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

• Actual Blending Errors: How to Identify Skill Gaps in Smooth Blending and the Critical Importance of Smooth Blending to Reading Development – NEW

Developing Attention to Detail

• Attention to Detail Explained: The Importance of Paying Attention to Detail & How to Help Your Child or Student Develop Attention to Detail for Reading Success

Establishing/Directly Building the Essential Foundation of Proficient Phonologic Processing of Print – Putting all the individual foundational skills together – This is critical!  Student must read by sounding out print! 

• Key Points and Effective Multisensory Activities to Directly Establish Phonologic Processing of Print & Help Students Achieve Reading Success 

• Decodable Text Explained: What Decodable Text Is, Why Decodable Text is Important in Beginning Reading and How to Select Decodable Text 

• Elements of an Effective Beginning Reading Program: How to Help Children Establish a Strong Foundation of Correct Phonologic Processing 

SECTION III: Advancing Higher Level Reading Skills Necessary for Proficient Reading

After the foundation of phonologic processing is established, it is important to directly help children and students build higher level skills. This section includes details for building, developing and strengthening higher level reading skills so your child or student advances to skilled reading. Click on the free reading information listed below to learn more.     

Fluency

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

Reading Comprehension

• How to Develop Reading Comprehension: Overview of Reading Comprehension & Specific Actions to Help Students Develop & Improve Reading Comprehension

• When a Student has Low Reading Comprehension Determining WHY They Struggle with Comprehension is Essential    – Common Reasons for Low Reading Comprehension & Importance of Evaluating & Targeting Instruction NEW ARTICLE

Vocabulary Knowledge

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

Reading Multi-Syllable Words

• Reading Multisyllable Words: Helping Students Learn How to Handle Multisyllable Words

Effective Technique for Advancing Higher Level Reading Skills

• The Importance of True Guided Reading! The Significant Benefits of Guided Reading and Specific Instructions on How to Help Your Child or Student Advance Reading Skills  Use this FREE and highly effective technique to help your child or student build skills! 

SECTION IV: Difficulty Reading (Dyslexia) & Effective Reading Intervention to Overcome Reading Difficulties ~ Learn why students struggle with reading and how to use effective reading intervention to help your struggling reader achieve reading success.

Many students face difficulty reading. It is essential to provide direct, effective intervention. Click on the free reading information listed below to learn more.     

If your child or student struggles with reading, please read the articles in this section!  

Understanding Reading Difficulty and the Importance of Effective Direct Intervention – Background & explanation of reading difficulty and how you CAN help your child or student achieve reading success

• Students Who Face Difficulties Learning to Read: Information on Reading Problems and Dyslexia & Why Individuals Face Challenges Learning to Read   This article provides an overview/background information on difficulty reading and dyslexia. If Your Child or Student Struggles with Reading, please START with this article!

• How to Help a Child or Student Who Struggles with Reading Overcome Reading Difficulties and Achieve Reading Success This article outlines the specific steps you can take to help your struggling reader develop necessary skills and achieve reading success.

• Effective Reading Intervention to Help Struggling Students Achieve Reading Success & How to Use Reading Evaluations to Target Effective Instruction/Remediation This article summarizes and explains the importance and implementation process of effective reading intervention to help struggling readers

• What Baseball Batting, a Terrific Dad, & a Bucket Can Teach Us About Reading: A Real-Life Example of How Essential Fundamental Skills are Important to Success & How Direct Instruction in Details CAN Help a Child Achieve Success. Students struggle with reading because they lack specific necessary skills. This article provides a real-life analogy of how intervention with direct effective instruction in essential fundamental skills can help a child overcome difficulty and achieve success.

• Explaining an Effective Reading Remediation Program to a Student  –  Information to share with your child or student to help them understand the effective intervention program you are going to begin with them.

• Elements of an Effective Reading Remediation Program to Improve Reading Skills in Struggling Readers  (targeted for students 3rd grade and older & adults who struggle with reading). 

Additional Information & Details on Specific Reading Problems, Using and Interpreting Reading Evaluations, Examples of Actual Reading Errors,  & Details and Information on Evaluations

• Information on Reading Errors: How to Evaluate Reading Errors and Identify Common Reading Problems and Effectively Target Instruction to Help the Student Build Necessary Skills

• 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 Skill

• The Importance of Evaluations in Reading Remediation: How to Conduct Reading Evaluations

• Low Reading Comprehension:  Determining WHY the Student Struggles with Comprehension is Essential: Common Reasons for Low Reading Comprehension & Importance of Evaluating to Target Instruction  

Summary Page – Brief listing of Information on Reading Difficulty Dyslexia &  Effective Intervention – This summary page is also provided in PDF format so it can easily be printed and shared. 

SECTION V:  The Toolbox for Effective Reading Instruction

Information on highly effective tools and resources for implementing effective reading instruction.  These effective tools will help you ‘get the job done’!

Tools to Achieve Reading Success

• Right Track Reading’s Effective Direct Systematic Phonics Programs: Translating the science and evidence-based research into actions YOU can use with your student!  Learn more about these effective, easy-to-use and affordable tools to directly help your child or student achieve reading success.   PREVIEW Right Track Reading Lessons (designed for younger children) and Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons (specifically targeted for older struggling readers 3rd/4th grade to adult). Both these programs are guaranteed effective!  

• The Toolbox of Materials for Effective Reading Instruction (effective NOT expensive!) Get the toolbox loaded & ready to use! A quick overview of ‘toolbox’ of effective reading instruction materials! 

• Phonics Phones Explained:  Learn how these simple devices can be a highly effective tool in reading instruction. Included directions for making phonics phones.

• Sound Tiles Explained: Highly Effective Multisensory Activities to Build Phonologic Processing & Develop Phonemic Awareness

• FREE & HIGHLY EFFECTIVE – How to Use TRUE Guided Reading to Help Your Student Advance Reading Skills (True guided reading is not a commercial program with the title, it is the highly effective technique of reading out loud with feedback and correction)

Resources for Users of Right Track Reading Lessons & Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons:

Supplemental Resources Designed Specifically for Right Track Reading Lessons and Back on the Right Track Reading Lessons Programs Including:

• A Quick Reminder Card
• FREE Decodable Stories for Right Track Reading Lessons
• Effective Beginning Spelling ~ Decodable Spelling Lists to go with Right Track Reading Lessons
• Tracer Letter Sound Writing Sheets for Right Track Reading Lessons

SECTION VI: Teaching Spelling ~ Helping Students Achieve Spelling Success

Spelling and reading are closely related. Spelling skills are developed as a part of strong direct systematic phonics instruction.  Phonemic awareness, phonologic processing, and learning the complete phonemic code are key for spelling success. Click on the free reading information listed below to learn more.  

• FAQ How are Spelling and Reading Related?

• Teaching Students HOW to spell: Effective Spelling Instruction to Help Students Develop Spelling Skills   This includes the foundation for spelling success, recommendations for effective spelling instruction, and links to samples of effective decodable spelling lesson

• Spelling Guidelines: The Next Step in Effective Spelling Lessons ~ Building Better Spellers by Directly Teaching Expected Patterns and Useful Guidelines    https://righttrackreading.com/spellguidelines.html 

SECTION VII:  Additional Teaching Considerations, Helpful Tips and Information on Other Related Topics

This section provides additional articles, suggestions and tips for teaching children and students, and information on related topics such as speech and dealing with ‘energetic’ students. Click on the free reading information listed below to learn more.     

• Tips for Working with ‘Energetic’ Students: Reading Instruction Tutoring Tips for Helping Students with Attention or Hyperactivity Challenges or Difficulties Acquire Reading Skills and Achieve Reading Success – When working with young ‘puppies’ and children, it is often helpful to use certain techniques help manage their high energy levels

• Tips for Helping Children Pronounce Specific Sounds – Some children have difficulty saying certain sounds, this provides tips for helping children pronounce sounds

• Selecting Level Appropriate Reading Material to Help Students Improve Reading Skills: How to choose reading level appropriate books for your child

• Information on Reading Difficulty (dyslexia) and Vision

• Reading About Reading: A Partial List of Recommended Books to Expand Your Knowledge of Reading

• A Mom-Designed and Kid-Tested Solution to Help Students Overcome b,d, p letter confusion

• General Tips on Helping Your Child Develop Handwriting Skills

SECTION VIII: Additional Resources & Links Page:

This section provides links to additional sources of information. 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. Click on the free reading information links below to learn more.     

• Key Reading Research Findings on Teaching Reading & The Neuroscience of Proficient Reading   

• A Terrific FREE Resource for Parents and Teachers- Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read

• Link to a A Series of extremely informative reports from American Public Media, APMreports, about teaching students to read. These podcasts (and attached printed articles of the podcasts) are phenomenal. They are well researched and include footnotes to all research, facts, and sources.   A fantastic source of information. I highly recommend all teachers and parents view these reports! 

• LINKS PAGE – This page contains additional links to access information, resources and sources of data related to teaching children and students to read  (currently/old website at   https://righttrackreading.com/page7.html

All articles and information found on this free reading information website pages are intentionally written to empower parents & teachers with information to help their children or students achieve reading success. The activities, techniques and instructional approaches described in these free reading information articles are all consistent with the findings from valid evidence-based research and the neuroscience revealing the importance of phonologic processing to proficient reading.

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