Archives for July 2020

Readability is an innovative app that is designed to help new and struggling readers. This app was created by a team of child development professionals, reading specialists, education experts, and tech professionals. The goal was to provide struggling readers with the tools they need to level the playing field for all kids.

If your child is struggling with reading, this app may help them develop the skills they need to succeed. But first, you may have some questions about how the app works and how it will help your child become a better reader. Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions:

Do we read on our own, or have tutors?

Using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the Readability app reads passages aloud to the reader then prompts the reader to read the same passage aloud. As the child reads aloud, the app will highlight the text that is being read, correct pronunciation errors, and notify the child when other mistakes are made, such as skipping over words.

How much is the subscription?

You can sign up for a free 7-day trial of the Readability app. Your card will not be charged during this free trial period. After this free trial period is over, Readability will cost $19.99 per month. Up to three readers can use the app for this low monthly price.

What is included with the subscription?

Subscribing to Readability will give you access to:

• Unlimited content for reading levels K-6
• Parent dashboard with data on your child’s performance, including:
  • Time spent reading
  • Accuracy
  • Words per minute
  • Comprehension scores
  • Books read
  • Report card email

If you have more than one reader on your account, the data provided in the parent dashboard will be separated by reader. This ensures parents can keep track of each child’s progress toward their reading goals.

Does Readability Tutor help with dyslexia?

Kids with dyslexia may be able to improve their reading skills by using the Readability app on a regular basis. The app will read passages aloud while your child follows along, which will help them improve their phonetic awareness and fluency skills. The speed at which the app reads aloud can be adjusted, so your child can slow it down in order to better follow the passage. If your child wants the app to repeat a specific word within the passage, they can simply tap on the word to hear it one more time.

Readability is also the only app of its kind that is designed with an interactive voice-based questions and answers feature. This feature allows kids to work on their reading comprehension skills and communicate with the app like they would with a reading tutor.

What age or grade is your program meant for?

The Readability app is designed for readers K-6. However, if your child has a reading or learning disability, they may benefit from using the app even after completing 6th grade.

Would it be too young for a 4th grader?

Fourth graders can greatly benefit from using the Readability app to improve their reading skills. Readability is designed to help new or struggling readers between reading levels K-6. The app contains a wide range of content available for each reading level.

Can homeschooling parents choose to start at a certain grade level?

The Readability app will automatically place your child at a reading level that is one level below their current grade level. This is done in order to build your child’s confidence in their ability to read, evaluate their current reading skills, and provide them with easier material while they get comfortable with the app. However, parents can change their child’s reading level at any time by adjusting the parent settings.

The app will also automatically notify parents if their child is ready to move onto the next reading grade level. This decision will be made based on the child’s progress within their current grade level. The app will analyze the child’s reading speed, pronunciation accuracy, and other factors to determine if the child is ready to advance. If you set goals for your child within the app, their progress towards meeting these goals will also be taken into consideration.

What is the reading level (grade or age)?

Every state and school uses different guidelines for reading levels. But we’ve kept it simple. Readability uses Lexile reading levels K-6.

The app also separates stories based on the Flesch-Kincaid system, which is one of the most widely used measures of readability. This system analyzes how difficult a passage is to read based on a number of factors, including total words, total sentences, and total syllables. Relying on this system to separate stories within the app ensures that your child will only be presented with passages that are appropriate for their reading level.

Does this help kids with special needs?

Readability can be used by all children, including those with special needs. The app will read passages aloud to your child so they can follow along with the text on their own. Listening to passages this way can help your child improve their phonetic awareness and fluency skills. Your child can adjust the speed at which the passage is read aloud at any time if they need to slow the pace down in order to keep up.

Your child can also ask the app to repeat a word simply by tapping on it. The app will reread the selected word as many times as necessary. This feature is beneficial to all children, especially those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who may have trouble paying attention to the passage as it is read aloud.

Kids with special needs can also benefit from the app’s interactive voice-based questions and answers feature. This feature tests your child’s comprehension skills and allows them to speak to the app just like they would speak to a reading tutor. It also keeps your child engaged and focused on the text.

What grade does this go up to?

Readability goes up to Lexile level 6, but older students who are struggling with reading can also benefit from using this app. Any child who reads at level 6 and below—regardless of their age—can improve their reading skills using this app.

Does this start from your child’s current reading level? For example, my child is a level K. Would it start from the beginning or at reading level K?

You will be asked to enter your child’s grade level when setting up the app. Based on this response, the app will provide age-appropriate content for your child to read. As your child progresses, the app will adjust their reading level based on how well they perform. If your child is performing well with level K content, the app may suggest moving your child to level 1 content.

Readability will initially start your child one grade level below their actual grade level. Doing this helps children gain confidence in their reading abilities so they are motivated to continue.

Can multiple children use the same subscription?

You can add up to three readers per subscription at no additional cost.

Who else can use Readability?

Although the app is designed for readers K-6, other readers may benefit from using it as well. Older readers, such as children in high school, may benefit from using the Readability app if they have not developed strong reading skills. Readers who speak English as a second language—regardless of their age—may also be able to improve their reading skills by using the Readability app.

If you have a question about Readability that is not included on this list, feel free to reach out to our support team for help. We are happy to answer your questions and address your concerns.

This has been no ordinary summer. Covid has shut down pools, ceased sporting events (both youth and professional) and left many kids with few entertainment options during the long break. There are still a few weeks left before school resumes (either online or in-person), and parents’ patience may be wearing thin.

Kids may be spending hours staring at their phones, tablets or the television. Video games and social media may have become the default options for keeping busy or staying connected with friends. When devices dominate the waking hours, here’s how to limit screen time during the ‘Summer of Covid.’

Create a Device Usage Contract

Like a cell phone contract, which outlines the rules for a teen having a phone, a device usage contract (or a screen time contract) can detail how often kids can spend on their phones, tablets or use their gaming consoles.

Every parent views screen time differently; some set few rules, but others only let their children spend a specified amount of time with devices. Your contract should work for your family’s values, needs and lifestyle.

Device contracts can set specific time limitations or they may include the times during the day when screen time is allowed. Parents also can detail if certain expectations must be met for kids to have screen time privileges; for example, a parent may decide that a child can only play on a device after completing chores, reading or outdoor time/physical activity.

Present Other Options 

Kids—and parents, too!—may grab the tablet or phone because there are no other options for entertainment. Parents who want their kids to spend less time staring at a screen may want to schedule other activities to keep children occupied and happy.

Schedule family game time, reading time (to meet book club goals) or play outside. Go for a walk or a hike in the woods. Maybe the neighborhood or backyard pool is open, and parents can schedule pool play time.

Parents may be limited in their own time, too. Working parents might not have the time or resources to plan out recreational opportunities. Once work ends, exhaustion sets in. For working parents, providing other entertainment options can be as easy as playing a board game, reading together or even journaling together.

Don’t Have Time to Plan Each Day? Make a Weekly Schedule!

Keeping kids off the screen and involved in other ways takes creativity. When parents are in the midst of their own daily schedule, there isn’t much time to stop working and think about ways to engage children.

Plan ahead! Working parents and stay-at-home parents could benefit from making a weekly rec schedule for kids. During the weekend, plan out ideas for children to do during the weekdays and create a written calendar. Parents can incorporate outdoor activities, crafts, stories…or whatever works. Set times for each activity and then post it somewhere visible. If grandparents are watching the kids, parents could talk to them about using the schedule to keep kids engaged.

Drop the Devices during Dinner, and Cook Together Instead

Do kids grab their phones or tablets while parents are cooking dinner? Have them drop those devices and get them cooking instead! Bonus: following a recipe can help a child with reading. Give them duties that are age-appropriate, and ask them to read the recipe for you.

Kids also could hone their math skills while measuring out ingredients. Use the recipe to help them learn about fractions, too. Many kids love helping parents around the house; cooking together can be a fun bonding experience. Just remember kitchen safety!

Accept Those Devices, But Don’t Let Them Dominate

The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t have a hard and fast rule when it comes to screen time duration for older kids. Instead, the AAP advises that screen time shouldn’t get in the way of basic needs—proper sleep and physical activity—and kids should have “media free zones.” The AAP does state that: “Children should not sleep with devices in their bedrooms, including TVs, computers, and smartphones.”

Today’s kids are growing up in an online, wired world. While parents can set limitations, devices are here to stay. Many kids are provided with their own school computers, and, during the spring Covid shutdown (and in the fall, too), children learned virtually; screens were (and are) a necessity.

Set reasonable limits and expectations for kids, but understand, too, that options for recreation are limited. Parents can create rec schedules and plan out activities, but sometimes the screens may be a handy option. And while devices can seem to dominate, they are an easy way to keep in touch with friends; during this crazy time, peer-to-peer contact is limited, too. Those screens may be the difference between social connections and social isolation.

All new readers struggle at some point in the learning process. Learning to read for the first time can be very difficult, but some students struggle even more than others. Millions of students who struggle with reading often have dyslexia. An estimated one in five students has a learning disability, with dyslexia being the most common.

This does not mean it will be impossible for them to read. Your child with dyslexia just needs more tools and support on their journey. Using an online reading program can help them improve their reading skills at home. These are the best reading programs for dyslexia and can be a great way to supplement your child’s reading instruction.

What are the best reading programs for dyslexia?

There is more support now than ever for students with dyslexia and the earlier they receive intervention the better they do later. However, you can always do more and have more tools to help your child succeed. These online reading programs can help your child get more practice with reading. They also offer an alternative way to learn to read that can greatly benefit your child’s learning experience.

1. Readability Tutor – This app is a great overall tool to use that helps create a multisensory experience for learners with dyslexia. Your child is able to get a model of good reading whenever they want. The app is also great for getting instant feedback and error correction that is specific to them. The app actually is able to listen to your child as they read aloud then gives them advice just like a real-life tutor.
   
2. Moose Materials – This website is filled with activities and games that can help your child learn to read and spell. They follow the Orton-Gillingham skills and concepts and use activities that encourage multisensory learning opportunities.
   
3. Nessy Reading – Nessy is another website that has many different materials that can help your child with dyslexia get a more varied learning experience. Many of the materials on the website also adhere to the Common Core curriculum, so it can be a great supplement for students attending public schools.
   
4. Learning Ally – This program is an established learning tool that many schools have used for several years. It is essentially an audiobook library with books that are adapted for students with learning disabilities and dyslexia. Check with your child’s school if they are already using the program as it can be pricey to gain access.
   
5. Rewordify – This website helps breakdown complicated texts to sentences that are simpler and easier to read. You can also input any text you like and the program will mark the parts of speech of each word. This can help your child learn more about sentence building.

How can I help my child improve their reading skills?

Using any of the reading programs can greatly improve your child’s reading skills. Often your child might not be able to get the one-on-one reading support they need at school. In addition to using a reading program, you can help them improve at home by incorporating one or more of these activities:

1. Read with them – Remember, the key is to read with them and not just to them. You want to provide a model for good reading but you also want them to practice their skills as much as possible. You can set aside some family reading time every day or even as little as once a week can make a big difference.
   
2. Encourage them to enjoy reading – Along with reading with them, you can encourage their practice by showing them they can actually enjoy reading even if they are struggling. You can have them choose books that they want to read and also use books as a reward.
   
3. Let them read at their own pace – Children with dyslexia can often feel self-conscious about their reading speed or pace. However, encourage them to read as slowly as they need to in order to understand the text. This shows them that the important thing is to accomplish comprehension, not just rushing through a text.
   
4. Set reading goals – You can help them have more motivation to practice reading by setting reading goals. Once your child has set their reading goals, you can help them track their goals by creating an actual visual such as a graph or chart that helps them track their progress.
   
5. Celebrate accomplishing goals – Not only should you build motivation, but you should also boost their confidence in reading by celebrating even the small successes. With every goal they accomplish, you can throw a little movie night or make them their favorite dinner.
   
6. Work with their teacher – A key part of helping children with dyslexia succeed is to make sure they have a strong support system. Their teacher plays an important part in their reading journey, so you should work with them often to create a “reading team” for your child. 

Can a reading app really help?

Yes! There are tons of reading apps that help with targeted concerns such as sight words, phonics, and vocabulary. However, the best app to use for students with dyslexia is one that combines multisensory learning and targets several skills at once.

Readability is a key app to use to help supplement your child’s reading progress. The app not only helps with fluency and pronunciation but also reading comprehension.

The app essentially works like a one-on-one tutor for your child. Using artificial intelligence and speech-recognition technology, the app actually listens to your child reading the passages and provides personalized feedback to help them improve. It also uses innovative Interactive Voice-based Questions & Answers to almost have a discussion with your child about the story they just read.

This app truly marries a multisensory experience with active learning techniques that greatly benefit students with dyslexia. Readability offers a free trial, but you will likely see that it is an essential tool for learning.

Lots of families are trying to make the most out of a summer that is just not the norm. Social distancing measures may mean that favorite activities aren’t an option. Sports may be cancelled. Camps, too. Some pools are open, but others are shut down for the summer. Even the upcoming school year may be a big question mark.

What are parents supposed to do with cooped up kids climbing the walls? While Coronavirus may have wreaked havoc on our daily routines, a little creative thinking may put the ‘fun’ back in this funky summer. Try these five crazy fun ideas to beat summer boredom.

1.   Make Ice-Cream for Dinner!

Yes, dinner should be healthy. But sometimes it’s ok to break the rules. Pick a day this summer and treat kids to ice-cream for dinner. Instead of going out for those cool treats, though, make your own ice-cream at home.

You can buy ice-cream makers at any major discount store (like Walmart or Target) or order one online. The best part about making your own ice-cream is that you choose the flavor(s)! Vanilla is a great choice for sundaes, but chocolate, mint or even cinnamon can spice up your sweet dinner too. You can make coconut ice-cream, avocado ice-cream or other vegan varieties, too!

Don’t make this dinner boring, though. Buy plenty of toppings that will be unforgettable. Gummy bears, nuts (if your kids don’t have allergies), sprinkles, fudge, marshmallows, whipped cream, candy bars, cookies…grab up lots of options, place the toppings in bowls and let kids create a masterpiece.

Is ice-cream for dinner well-balanced and healthy? No it is not. But your kids will likely remember this meal for a very long time. Ice-cream for dinner may be the highlight of this not-so-normal summer.

2.   Create Your Own Plushie or Pillow

You’ll need a sewing machine for this craft, and parents need to assist. To create a pillow or plushie, head to the local craft store (or discount store) and pick out some fabric, buttons and felt.

Fabric can be plain or feature a design or pattern—the choice is up to each child. BeezeeArt has a great post about how to create a pattern for a plushie. If you aren’t super artistic, that’s ok. You can draw a big heart, a bear outline, a butterfly or just a circle (to make an emoji). Trace an idea that is easy for you. Don’t think you need to design a masterful looking doll or teddy bear. Remember: this is supposed to be fun for you and your child. So don’t make it stressful!

The easiest way to create a plushie or a pillow is simply by cutting out two pieces of the same picture (two hearts, two bears, etc.) to create a front and back. You will need to sew the patterns inside out.

If you’re just making an easy pillow, you can sew the pieces together after cutting out the patterns. However, for a plushie, have your child decorate the face first. You can add eyes, a mouth or whatever details you want. If parents don’t want to sew the pieces down, then hot glue may be the best choice; only parents should operate the glue gun (that glue is HOT!).

When sewing the pieces together, leave a hole to push in the stuffing. This is the fun part! Let your child stuff their own pillow or plushie. After stuffing, parents should sew the seam either by hand or with a sewing machine.

3.   Be Mindful Together, and Embrace Your Inner Yogi

This summer has been stressful for parents and kids. Social isolation may have led to depression or anxiety. Parents should consult their child’s pediatrician when mental health becomes a concern.

However, all families may benefit from embracing a habit of mindful meditation and/or yoga practice. Meditation may help with calming the mind and body. Yoga may help with flexibility—plus, it’s fun!

Meditation isn’t hard to learn. There is no right or wrong way to meditate. Kids and parents can listen to calming music, close their eyes and simply focus on breathing in and out.

For families that are interested in adopting a yoga practice into their daily routine, it’s best to begin with easy poses. Parents can find easy yoga videos that are suitable for kids just by looking online. In fact, the YouTube channel Cosmic Yoga for Kids is a great place to learn!

If your child has any medical conditions or special needs, talk to your pediatrician before beginning a yoga practice.

4.   No Pool? Sprinklers are Fun!

This summer, pools and bikes have been so popular that many stores couldn’t keep them in stock. If you don’t have a backyard pool—even a small blow-up model—turn on the sprinklers.

Stores sell attachments to make the outdoor hose a fun water playground. You also can try and make a DIY water slide using a roll of plastic. Make sure you apply sunscreen and never leave kids unattended near water!

5.   Become an Author, Write a Book!

Yes, your child can be an author this summer. Use construction paper for the cover and lined paper for the body of the story. Encourage children to create their own story book…let them write about anything they wish!

Kids can design their own fun and colorful cover and add their by-line under the title. Parents can bind the book with a row of staples; after the book is published, read the story together. Families can design a book each summer and keep these summer mementos on the bookshelf to enjoy again and again!

This summer might be out of the ordinary, but it can still be filled with extraordinary memories. Think outside the norm to create fun activities that will have lasting nostalgia. Summer fun is as big as your child’s imagination!