Archives for September 2021

The Best Program to Teach Reading that Doesn’t Feel Like Homework

September 28, 2021

When children come home from school, they need a bit of downtime. While there could be a pile of homework in their backpack, along with a book for a reading assignment, decompressing might help children feel refreshed to tackle more work.

For children who might need additional help with reading, parents might be on the lookout for reading programs or solutions that don’t feel like…more work. Tutors could simply be seen by children as yet another teacher. And more lessons! Parents can help make reading lessons fun by using the best program to teach reading…that doesn’t feel like homework!

Isn’t all Reading Homework?

It’s true that most schools and grade-level teachers assign nightly reading homework to students. The reading assignment could be between 15 to 30 minutes per day, although 20 minutes of reading might be the literacy sweet spot.

Decades ago, reading assignments were less focused on minutes and more focused on reading a certain number of books. Gen Xers and Baby Boomers might remember being instructed to read a specific number of fiction and nonfiction books per year. To prove that a student read each book, they might have written a book report detailing what they liked about the book.

Times have changed, and now reading focuses on minutes…not necessarily the number of books. Some parents might prefer the old way, but others might like the idea that their child needs to read a certain number of minutes each night (or day). While there is no wrong or right preference, there is an overlying understanding that no matter how the assignment is presented, reading should be fun.

Back in the past, some students might have struggled to read those allotted numbers of books, just as some children today might look at the clock and groan. Reading should be enjoyable, and when the fun is removed from the experience, reading does feel like homework. It might be up to parents to try to transform the homework into…funwork.

Transforming the Reading Journey

If a child has developed an aversion to reading, breaking out those bound books could cause them to procrastinate…or begrudgingly start to shuffle through those pages. Unfortunately, if reading is treated like another assignment, the fun could be zapped. But this feeling doesn’t have to be permanent, and children don’t have to live a life of reading frustration. Here are a few ways parents can create a fun reading zone and help children view books like an adventure:

Let children choose their book. For reading minutes, parents should make sure the books are at a child’s reading level. That way the text or content isn’t too difficult.
Build a reading fort.
Let children listen to the story as they read. This could help them understand the emotion.
Create reading rewards.
Visit the library to let children explore their reading options.
Watch the movie after reading the book. Compare the book and the movie. Watching the movie also could be a reading reward.
Take a field trip to a place mentioned in the book. This doesn’t have to be the exact place, though. Visit someplace related to the story. This is called a reading field trip.

Letting Children Pick Their Books

Sometimes parents really want a child to read a specific book. Maybe this was a book that a parent loved as a child. Maybe parents just grab a book for the child to read. Books and their content can be specific and personal to a reader.

Parents might want to look back at their own childhood and try to remember how they found beloved authors. Maybe a friend recommended a book or a book series. But what a parent loved a child might not love…or maybe they will.

Books are a journey. Every journey may be different. Libraries are a great way for children to explore their own reading journey. They can look at different books and find out what path they want to take. Maybe they discover a love of sci-fi or biographies. Maybe they choose books based on their hobbies or interests.

Letting children pick their own books gives them a reason to be excited for reading time. They can explore what they want to explore. As children get older, they may branch out with their reading choices. They may explore different topics and genres. They may use books to find out their own beliefs or to investigate historical events.

Book choice gives children their own power. And when parents are desperately trying to get their children to read, choice may help children embrace a love of the story.

Reading Programs: A Different Kind of Adventure

Children might need additional help with reading. They may be reading below their grade level or they may simply struggle with specific reading concepts—like comprehension. Some children could qualify for additional help at school; this could be reading intervention programs or other types of programs.

Other children might not receive additional help at school, but parents might still want to investigate resources to provide additional enrichment. Online reading programs can be used by children at home after school to help them gain confidence and proficiency.

The best program to teach reading, though, should be fun and immersive. Most importantly, that reading resource shouldn’t feel like another homework assignment. When researching online reading programs, what features are important?

Parents will obviously want to choose programs that help address their child’s struggles and help them become better and more proficient readers. However, lessons should be immersive; they should be fun. They shouldn’t make children groan or want to avoid the program.

Here’s what parents should look for in an online reading program:

Engaging content. Stories should be at the appropriate level for every reader, but they shouldn’t talk down to readers. This means that the stories should hold the age-level interest of the reader. A fourth-grader shouldn’t have to read stories about little ducks going for a swim…or content that’s designed for a younger age.
Immersive design. Books and stories should keep readers engaged, but features within the program’s design need to help immerse the reader into the story. Can children click on words to find out what they mean? Is there a built-in guide that helps children with lessons? These are all features that take the program to another level.
Colorful illustrations. Blocks of text can become overwhelming. Children who struggle with reading might become frustrated by simply seeing pages and pages of words with nothing else. Stories in reading programs should offer illustrations that break up all the text.
Meaningful feedback. Reading programs shouldn’t simply have a child reading text aloud without any guidance. Look for programs that include a built-in tutor that helps guide lessons and provides help when children struggle.
Simple design. Children should be able to use a reading program without a manual. A program needs to be simple enough for a child to log in and begin their work. They shouldn’t have to deal with glitches or a complicated format.

Measuring Success…and Fun

Not every reading program will be beloved by every child. That’s simply a reading reality. Parents might research different programs to find out what one is best for their child. This is also where free trial offers can be really beneficial.

Parents should look for programs that offer some type of free trial period. This allows parents and children to explore the program and find out if it’s a good fit. Children can also read through stories and check out the different features.

When parents feel comfortable that they’ve found the best program for their child, they can commit to a subscription. Some programs charge per month. Others might have a different billing structure.

As children begin to actively use a program, parents will want to follow their child’s progress. Ideally, reading programs should include a section for parents to view their child’s reading data. Readability includes a Parent Dashboard that’s only accessible to parents. The Dashboard lets parents see their child’s current reading level, their reading rate (number of words read per minute) and how long their child used the program. All this data also can be compiled into a reading report that can be emailed to the child’s teacher.

For children, Readability offers a fun reading environment that helps them gain confidence and proficiency. Lessons won’t feel like homework, because the stories are always interesting, unique and immersive. Parents can follow their child’s progress to ensure that the fun is also boosting their child’s skills.

Interested in helping children embrace the fun of reading while gaining proficiency? Try Readability today!

One of the Best Apps to Learn to Read Can Be Used Throughout Elementary School

September 24, 2021

Children may struggle to read when they are early in the elementary years or even when they hit later grades (before middle school). No matter what age or grade level that a parent begins to notice their child struggling, the reaction may be the same: how can parents help?

Reading apps can help children practice aspects of reading, and some may even offer built-in tutoring capabilities. One of the best apps to learn to read can even be used throughout the elementary school years.

Yet, there are so many types of reading apps available. The choices could be overwhelming to parents. Here’s what to know about finding the best apps to learn to read and, most importantly, how to find the best app that can help a child’s particular reading struggle.

The Choices Really Are Vast

To find out what reading app options are available on a particular device, parents might simply search “reading app” via Google Play or the App Store (for Apple devices). And this is where the overwhelming sense of choice becomes very apparent.

Searching the term “reading app” on Google Play can leave parents scrolling through so many apps that they seemingly cannot be counted. The App Store pulls up the same nearly endless selection of apps. To narrow the search (via Apple), there is the option to click on links for games, light, comprehension, speed, text, anime, help, glasses, card and more. What does all this mean? Really, it’s just another way to weed out apps that aren’t a great fit. However, it could complicate the search for parents; one of the sorting choices is astrology. So how does this fit into reading? The term refers to astrology readings, not literacy!

When looking for a reading app to help a child, parents will likely need to know a bit more about their child’s struggles. Or they might just choose to focus on words like fluency, comprehension or sight words to narrow down search results.

Here are a few other helpful terms to type into search queues via the App Store or Google Play to find reading apps focused on literacy:

Helper reading app

Fluency reading app

Comprehension reading app

Sight word reading app

Phonics reading app

Parents also could enter in their child’s grade level for a more specific app search. For example “first grade reading app.” On a tight budget? Search for “free reading app.”

Finding Reading Apps that Grow with Young Readers

Parents might not want to find a grade-specific app. Instead, they may be looking for an app that will grow with their child. If a child’s reading struggles become apparent at a young age (like kindergarten), parents might wish to use an app that their child can use throughout the early elementary years.

While searching for “k-5 reading app” might seem like a logical way to find these apps, unfortunately the search doesn’t necessarily filter out all the options that don’t fit into the growth range. Parents might still see apps just for younger children. Or apps that just aren’t relevant.

Instead of searching for programs via the App Store or Google Play, parents might just turn to Google. Searching for “reading program for struggling readers” will bring up many articles and options (including Readability!). This could be a good way to sort through and find relevant programs. Google also includes other related searches at the bottom of the page. Use these suggested terms to find any other additional options.

The Best App to Learn to Read

When children are beginning the road to reading, they will likely focus on blends, sight words, letter identification, sounds and basic comprehension. Children may struggle with one or multiple pieces of the literacy puzzle. For this reason, the best apps to learn to read are the apps that provide the best help for a child’s individual struggles.

Parents can find so many different types of reading apps. Some are games that help young readers identify and practice sight word identification. Others focus on letter recognition, sounds and phonics. There are apps that could help with other struggles, too.

However, reading apps are not always designed as games. Some are designed as lesson-based instruction. These apps can offer tutoring capabilities to guide lessons and provide additional help for children if they struggle. For example, Readability includes a built-in AI tutor that is programmed to recognize each user’s voice. When a reader stumbles or makes a mistake, the AI tutor provides help and corrections.

Parents also might wish to delve into the design of the app. How does the app guide reading instruction? Does the app include help with fluency, comprehension, or both? Again, parents may zero in on the apps that best meet the needs of the child.

Are the Best Apps to Learn to Read Expensive?

A family’s budget can come into play when they are looking for tools to help their child. Tutoring could be a logical choice for parents to ensure that their child receives more one-on-one instruction to help ease their struggles. However, the rates of tutors may vary. Some families simply don’t have the budget to pay for hourly sessions each week…or even each month.

Apps can be a less expensive way to provide reading help for children. Some of these apps might even be free. However, free apps might offer limited capabilities. And free apps designed as games also could include in-app purchase options; this means that if parents aren’t careful, their child could make purchases within the game. These purchases could rack up surprise charges. When using apps that offer in-app purchases, parents can disable the in-app purchase option on their phone or device to ensure they don’t receive any surprise charges.

Reading apps that offer more immersive or lesson-based instruction might require a subscription. For example, Readability charges $19.99 per month to access the program. Prices for programs may vary. When reviewing the subscription price, parents should understand when they will be billed and how often they will be billed. They also might investigate any limitations of the subscription. For example, how many users (children) can access the account? Readability allows families to add up to three users on a single account. For families with three children, the subscription price is really less than $7 per month per child.

Ask to Try out the App

Interested in a particular app or reading program? Parents might not know if it’s a fit simply by reading about the program online. Many programs—including Readability—include a free trial period that allows families to explore the stories and the AI tutor.

If there isn’t information about a free trial available on a program’s website, parents might drop a note to customer service to inquire about scheduling a trial. It never hurts to ask. When using a free trial, though, parents might still be required to enter billing information.

Measuring a Child’s Reading Growth

The best app to learn to read also should provide parents with a way to measure the success of the program. Parents want to know that their child is making progress. When researching programs, parents can look into how the program measures success and how it reports these results to parents.

Readability provides parents with a portal called the Parent Dashboard. This portal gives parents all the details and insight related to their child’s reading progress. The Dashboard includes the number of words the child can read per minute, the child’s current reading level and shows parents how long the child used Readability. Parents can even email this info to the child’s teacher via a customized reading report.

Interested in trying out Readability? Parents can request a free trial today!

Use These Online Elementary Reading Programs Anywhere!

September 21, 2021

Today’s families are busy. Many children are involved in multiple after-school activities like scouting programs, sports, dance, music lessons, and church groups too. Parents have work engagements, their own social activities, and then there’s family time. Homework for children may be completed between activities or even on-the-move.

Most children also have to read daily—20 minutes, typically. While books are easy to grab on the run, sometimes parents forget. Reading materials on phones and devices, though, are always a click away. And for children who need extra help, online reading programs can be used anywhere for mobile reading practice.

Mobile Books

Some children might have a certain book that they are reading in class. They might want to continue reading this book at home. When parents and children get busy and are rushing to head out the door, though, sometimes books and other materials are left behind.

One easy way for parents to ensure that books are never left behind is to use an ereader app. Typically, these apps are pre-downloaded onto phones and other devices. They also usually connect with a virtual library or bookstore where parents can download and purchase other books. Some materials through the ereader are free, but others are not. Prices can vary.

Parents can download the book their child is currently reading to ensure that there is a mobile copy. Children can then read their book on a tablet or phone. Those reading minutes can be clocked in the car between activities or maybe on the sidelines of their sibling’s activity.

Ereaders provide parents with another means to encourage reading. And if a child leaves the book behind, there is a backup copy waiting to be read…virtually.

While ereaders are not reading programs, they are another way to enjoy the reading journey and to encourage children to practice reading. Virtual books can be found for all reading levels.

Reading Games

Younger elementary students might need to practice the basics of reading—phonics and letter recognition. They also might be tasked with memorizing a list of sight words. These are easy words that children should be able to recognize on sight.

Game-based apps can help children practice these early reading skills. Parents can download games focused on letter recognition, sounds and sight words, too. Some games may encourage letter tracing. Others may have a variety of games that children can enjoy…while they practice their skills.

Parents can find free apps, but some may have a cost. Even free apps, though, might have hidden costs—these are called in-app purchases. Parents can receive surprise bills from games with these purchasing options. However, parents can opt to turn off in-app purchases so that children cannot buy items within their games.

So what reading games are the best? This really depends on the child and their own interests. Parents can check the reviews, though, to see what others think about the app. If the app is free, parents can just delete it if children don’t show much interest.

Online Elementary Reading Programs to Help Struggling Readers

Some children may need more help with reading than simple games can provide. They may struggle with comprehension or reading fluency, and parents may be on the lookout for a program that can help them hit necessary grade-level benchmarks.

There are a number of online reading programs to help struggling readers. Each program may offer a different format or may focus on a different aspect of reading. For this reason, parents can research their options before committing to a program.

For children who struggle with comprehension, there may be programs that focus solely on this skill. Others may help guide children that have difficulty with reading fluency, letter recognition, and sounds or sound blends.

Programs like Readability focus on a comprehensive approach to help readers in all areas of literacy. Readability includes a built-in AI tutor that is programmed to recognize each child’s voice. Readability lessons require children to read stories and books aloud, and, as they read, the AI tutor will help them along the way—if they stumble.

To help test comprehension and to ensure that children understand what they are reading, the tutor also asks questions at the end of each story. If children show mastery of both comprehension and fluency at the stories for their current reading level, Readability will move them to the next level.

Children might progress through the program at different speeds. Some children may master levels quickly only to need additional practice at more difficult levels. Other children may take longer to progress.

For busy families, though, one of the biggest benefits of online reading programs like Readability is that they can go anywhere…as long as there is wifi access or a cell phone signal. This means that children can practice reading in the car or even on vacation. However, parents might want to check their cell phone data plan to ensure before using the app remotely.

Do Online Reading Programs Work?

Parents may be hesitant to use an app to guide their child’s reading. Reading programs can help struggling readers gain confidence and proficiency, but parents should choose the program that will best help and guide their child. Each program also may be designed for a specific age or grade range. For example, Readability can be used from preschool through fifth grade. It’s important for parents to understand not simply the features and design of a program but any age or grade specifications as well.

This is why trying out or researching different programs is so important. While parents can look at a company’s website to gain a bit of background about a reading program, the only way to really understand and gain familiarity with the program is to use it.

Many reading programs offer free trial periods so that parents and their children can work with the program to better understand features and format. Readability provides a free seven-day trial period; this allows parents and their children to have access to stories and use the AI tutor.

Parents may want to supervise a few lessons so that they can see the program and how it works. If parents are confident that the program is a good fit for their child, they can continue on with a Readability monthly subscription.

As their child uses Readability, parents can check-up on reading progress by accessing a parent-only portal called the Parent Dashboard. This space will show all the reading data associated with each child (up to three children can use one subscription of Readability). The Parent Dashboard displays current reading levels, words read per minute and even how long a child used the program.

All reading data can be compiled into a report that can be emailed to the child’s teacher. This can help parents better communicate with the school about reading progress. While seeing that a child is progressing at home is a good sign, parents will also want to know that the child is demonstrating the same progress at school.

Teachers can then share with parents what they are seeing in the classroom related to reading fluency and progress. Parents also can compare reading progress on Readability to reading data sent from the school from standardized reading tests or other assessments.

Interested in scheduling a free trial to discover Readability? Sign up today!

How to Increase Reading Speed

September 17, 2021

Decoding words with ease would logically mean that children can read more text in a shorter amount of time. The ability to take in more words would then, theoretically, lead to the greater absorption of information. Yet, there are children who can easily decode words but can only comprehend a basic level of the textual meaning. There are also students who can read quickly and understand everything they read.

Reading speed is denoted by words read per minute. The average reading speed increases with grade level. Parents of children who are slow readers might be interested in how to increase reading speed to ensure their child is…up to speed.

But how crucial is reading speed? Are there ways to increase reading speed? Can slower readers be successful? Here’s what parents should know about words per minute, fluency and if speed is the road to reading success.

Literacy Expert: Reading Speed Might be a Symptom

There are data points for almost every educational benchmark. One way that educators might be measuring a student’s proficiency and fluency is by measuring the number of words a student can read per minute. So why is this important?

Reading speed might simply be one way for teachers to measure how well a child can decode words. But the importance of reading speed also could be a pressure point that doesn’t hold as much meaning when taken alone. According to reading expert Timothy Shanahan, reading speed may simply be a symptom of another problem. That is, while reading slower might not be a problem for all readers, some students might read slower because of issues related to decoding.

In addition, there might not be an accurate measure of a problematic slow reading speed. In other words, there isn’t a clearly defined words-per-minute measurement that has been shown to impact comprehension. Shanahan notes that this measurement could, hypothetically, be 30 words per minute, as this would mean that it would take a child two seconds to decode each word.

“Instead of trying to teach students to read faster, it is essential to make certain that they are able to decode easily and continuously, and to maintain their concentration,” Shanahan wrote.

What is the Average Reading Speed by Grade Level

Parents might be focused on encouraging their child to hit benchmarks. Yet, the definition of slower reading speed might still be debatable. However, there are still published data points related to the number of words per minute that a child in each grade will read. Data for reading speed is often presented as either a single number or a number range per grade level.

Reading A-Z offers a data table to help parents understand the range associated with each grade level. The site also breaks down the numbers throughout the year (so Fall, winter, spring). There are different tests that can measure reading fluency rates. By the end of each grade level, here’s the typical target range for readers (per Rasinski):

First Grade: 30 to 90 words per minute

Second Grade: 70 to 130 words per minute

Third Grade: 80 to 140 words per minute

Fourth Grade: 90 to 140 words per minute

Fifth Grade: 100 to 150 words per minute

Sixth Grade: 110 to 160 words per minute

There is overlap between grades related to the average words per minute. In addition, the range for other tests may differ.

By the time a student reaches the age of 18 (or college), the expected reading speed is about 280 words per minute.

Speed Reading vs. Reading Speed

Shanahan mentioned speed reading in his article and his experience with the class. He noted that the class didn’t increase his speed and explained that it focused more on scanning through the text. This probably isn’t the goal that parents have in mind when they want their child to read faster.

Parents also likely don’t want their child to read so fast that their brain can’t comprehend the ideas because it’s so focused on speeding up the process. Yet, parents do want their child to be able to easily decode text and understand what they read.

There are ways to help children become more fluent readers, and these exercises also could help them read a little faster, too. Some children, though, might need more time to think about text. And some passages may be more difficult to read than others…depending on content.

Practicing could help children develop fluency. One exercise that parents can use to help children boost their speed is to encourage their child to read a passage out loud. Parents set a timer for a minute and encourage children to read the passage. Parents will need to keep track of any mistakes during the exercise. Words that are mispronounced are counted off of the final words per minute tabulation. At the end of the minute, parents need to count up all the words the child reads correctly for their final ‘words per minute’ rate.

Sounds complicated? Parents also could take an easier approach. Encourage children to read aloud every day. This can help them hear their pronunciations and parents also could offer help. Practicing also can help children gain confidence.

There are unique ways to encourage children to read aloud, too. Some animal shelters invite children to read to the animals. Why? As many shelters note, pets won’t correct mistakes. Children can read to the animals without fear of judgment or embarrassment. This environment might help them feel more secure and confident. Plus, the animals receive attention. There may be a cost associated with these programs, though.

Children also can read aloud to younger siblings. Reading aloud to a younger brother and sister can introduce younger children to new stories while allowing the older sibling to practice reading. Again, younger siblings likely won’t judge.

Slow Reading and Decoding Issues

Slow reading rates could be associated with decoding issues. Children who struggle to pronounce words would obviously need to read slower as they work to decode each word in the text. When parents are reading with children, they may notice that their child is struggling to decipher the text.

Children might be identified by the school with reading struggles, or they might be diagnosed with a learning disorder (from a specialist). Some children might receive more intervention in the classroom, while others could be offered more intense reading assistance by a specialist at the school. Others, though, might not be far enough behind to qualify for additional help.

If parents notice that their child is struggling to read and is really having difficulty decoding grade-level text, the school might be the first contact. Parents might be told that their child is reading below grade level or the teacher might have additional data to share.

Whether or not a child receives additional help at school could depend on a number of factors. Parents might choose to help their child at home. Tutors, reading intervention programs and reading apps could help children with reading struggles.

There are many programs that parents can use to help children at home. Readability provides a comprehensive approach to reading; the program helps children with both fluency and comprehension. Lessons require children to read aloud, and the program includes a built-in AI tutor that helps children if they struggle with pronunciation. The tutor will also ask questions at the end of each story to gauge comprehension.

Readability provides parents with a snapshot of their child’s reading data via a Parent Dashboard. Only parents have access to this section, and it includes a child’s reading rate (words per minute), their reading level and their time on the program. Parents also can compile all this reading data into a report that can be sent to the child’s school or teacher.

Not every program will be the perfect fit for each child. But parents can try out Readability at no cost for a week to better understand the features and capabilities. Sign up today!

Options for Reading Comprehension Tutoring for Children

September 14, 2021

Some children might have trouble retelling stories and making inferences or predictions while reading a book or story. There may be times when children might not remember main characters or be able to synthesize plot elements. These are all issues related to reading comprehension.

Even if a child isn’t reading far below grade level any struggles could cause concern for parents, and tutoring could help children gain proficiency. There are many options for reading comprehension tutoring when children are struggling at school. Here’s how parents can find the best tutor!

In-Person Tutors

When parents are interested in finding a reading tutor for their child, they might be drawn to in-person tutoring options. There are many ways to find tutors; some companies specialize in offering tutoring services. Others offer a platform for tutors to offer their services, and parents can shop around to find a tutor that matches their child’s needs (and maybe personality, too).

Schools also could offer types of tutoring services, although this could simply just be before school or after school assistance. Still, though, this extra small-group option might help students who struggle with reading or other subjects.

Other school districts might require tutoring hours for upperclassmen for certain programs or clubs. Tutoring also could be a part of community service hours. These tutoring services might be offered at no charge. Not every district offers this type of tutoring, though. Parents should reach out to their school to find out if these types of programs exist in the area. Schools also could help parents find tutors, too.

Community programs through the YMCA or other organizations could be another option. Parents might need to be members, though. Or there could be certain other requirements related to these types of tutoring services. Research the local Y or other organizations in the area to inquire about after-school programs or tutoring.

While some of these in-person tutoring opportunities might be offered at no charge to parents, tutoring services via professional tutoring companies might vary in price. Tutors likely charge per hour, and, depending on how much help a child needs, tutoring sessions might be needed multiple times per month. For parents on a budget, this is a cost that could add up quickly.

Virtual Tutors

Some tutoring companies might offer virtual tutoring services. This might be set-up a bit like online learning was during the pandemic. Children might need to schedule a virtual meet up through a program like Zoom.

Parents will likely pay per a specified time period (i.e. by the hour, half hour, etc.). However, virtual tutoring sessions could be a more flexible option for parents who don’t have time to drive their child to a location like a library for tutoring services. Virtual tutoring allows lessons to be held via the child’s home…or anywhere with an internet connection.

Parents as Tutors

Some parents feel confident serving as their child’s tutor. Not only is this free, but it’s also convenient! There are many resources that parents could use to help their child with reading comprehension. Many of these resources can be found online. There are reading worksheets focused on comprehension; these often feature a reading passage and questions related to the story. Many of these worksheets can be found online and printed for free. Just make sure to read the terms of any website to be sure that it’s ok to print out these materials.

Teachers also might be able to provide parents with enrichment materials that can be used at home. They might be able to send extra worksheets or give parents some tips on how to work with their child at home.

Parents of elementary age children also could let their child create a reading comprehension bookmark. This page marker serves as a reference guide for children as they read a story or book. Bookmarks can include questions about the plot, characters, etc. Parents also could purchase reading comprehension bookmarks via online retailers.

Not every parent feels confident serving as their child’s tutor, however. Some parents might feel that their child won’t view them as an educator and might not take the lessons seriously. Parents also just might not have the time to devote to tutoring their child.

Some children also could need more help than a parent knows how to provide. While helping a child with reading might sound easy, it isn’t always so simple…many teachers know this. A child’s struggle could be complicated and might require more focused reading programs or resources.

Teaching reading comprehension isn’t always just about asking questions related to the story. Children need to begin to learn how to look beyond the text and analyze meaning. They need to be able to predict what could happen next. Or inference the intentions of a character. As children move into the middle school and high school years, comprehension becomes complex. Students need to think deeply about stories, using text to support arguments and comparing and contrasting events from a story to broader themes.

Guided Reading Comprehension Tutoring Programs

Parents who aren’t interested in hiring a private tutor or who don’t necessarily feel confident in tutoring their child at home also could research reading comprehension tutoring programs. These are available online or via apps. There are many options, and each one might have a different format and unique features, too.

Some reading programs might focus on the whole reading journey—phonics, fluency, comprehension, etc. Other programs might be designed for students with a particular reading struggle. Parents know their child’s struggles and might be the best advocate for what type of program they need. Before committing to a reading program, parents might explore different options.

Free trial periods might be an option with some reading programs, and this is an easy way for parents and their child to try out a program before committing to a subscription. Readability, for example, offers a seven-day trial. Other programs might offer similar or different lengths of this free period.

When exploring a program during the trial period, parents really need to assess the features and structure. Not every program will resonate with every child. Parents might wish to sit with their child as they use the program and work on reading lessons.

Readability requires children to read lessons aloud. The program offers a built-in AI tutor that is programmed with voice recognition software. This means that when a child reads the story out loud, the AI tutor is learning the intonations of the child’s voice. The purpose of the AI tutor is to help a child correct any word mispronunciations and to aid the child as they read; even though the tutor is virtual, it still holds a similar role and function as an in-person tutor.

After the child completes a story in Readability, they are tested on their comprehension. The AI tutor will ask the child questions related to the story. If the child demonstrates both reading proficiency with content and comprehension mastery, they can progress to another reading level.

When parents commit to a Readability subscription, they can access their own portal called the Parent Dashboard. This portal will display all their child’s reading data, including the words read per minute, reading level and the time the child spent using the program. Parents also can collate this data into a report that can be emailed to the child’s teacher.

While a reading program can serve as a reading comprehension tutor, parents also can look into other tutoring services. Private tutors, virtual tutoring sessions and even some free tutoring programs might be an option. Parents also could serve as their child’s tutor. If the budget and time are an issue, though, programs like Readability can provide a unique tutoring program for children to use right in their home…at any time. Parents can try Readability for free for one week to see if it’s a fit for their child. Schedule a trial today to access a unique reading comprehension tutoring experience.

Readability Author’s Series: Andrea Alexander

September 14, 2021

Readability author Andrea Alexander has published six books, and proceeds from her books are donated to Glory Day Live (a nonprofit started by Alexander).

Alexander shared her favorite children’s books and the motto that brings her inspiration. Read on to find out more about one of the many authors that helps bring Readability’s stories to young readers!

Who or What inspired you to become a writer?

Several years ago when my boys were in elementary school, my oldest son really took to reading and really enjoyed it and so he did great. Then when my younger son started in elementary school, he just was not interested at all in reading. He really had a difficult time, struggled with it, just wasn’t interested in books. It really was troubling.

By the time he got to third grade, he was still having some trouble reading. Ultimately what we kind of came to realize was that he was really interested more so in sports. So my older son would be reading books at a much higher reading level and those were the ones that my younger son was interested in. There’s a four year difference between my boys, so that made a big difference in terms of reading levels and things like that. I started thinking about “what can I do to get this kid to read?” It really came down to that—trying to figure out what are some things that he’s interested in. I knew he loved sports, and he loved all the facts about the players and loved to learn about the leagues and things like that. That’s really kind of what started it.

The first book I did was on Bryce Harper. At the time, Bryce was playing for the Nats and that took off–it still does pretty well from what I understand. We did a lot of stuff with the Washington Nationals just from a promotion standpoint. It did really, really well. And then after that we did others—we did Kurt Cousins, we did Tom Brady. That one, of course, has been a number one hit. And a few others. That’s how it all started!

What is your favorite children’s story?

There are definitely some books that I liked as a child. “Where the Wild Things Are” always sticks out. I don’t even know why. It’s literally my favorite book. My mom said I would read that book over and over and over again as a child. I could probably still recite it if I tried.

I’ve actually always been prone to non-fiction, as well. So I think that’s also harder, because I think for younger kids it’s hard to find something that’s non-fiction that they’re interested in and actually at a lower reading level for them.

What is a quote or motto that brings you inspiration and motivation?

My father used to say “Nothing good comes easy.” Whenever I face a challenge, I think of him.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?

My books are based on professional athletes. I look for players that are positive role models and have given back to the community.

Did your writing motivate your son, or did that have an impact at all on things?

He definitely was into it; he got into also helping me edit them. I joked around that he was like my little editor in terms of ‘hey you know what you should do…you should add this or what about this.’ He really had a lot of fun with it trying to figure out some things to add, and by the time I started doing it he was in fourth and fifth grade and so it definitely had an interest.

I noticed with the elementary schools—we went into a lot of elementary schools—and they said it’s been really helpful for some of the kids that are at a lower reading grade level. It’s nonfiction; so a lot of times what happens with kids that are in third, fourth or fifth grade that are in a lower reading level, the other kids know it. All the kids know if someone’s a strong reader or someone’s not a strong reader, and they get really self-conscious about it.

If you’re picking a book that’s about sport–if you’re picking a book that’s Tom Brady or Bryce Harper or somebody that all the kids know about–nobody thinks anything of it because it’s non-fiction, it’s an athlete, it’s somebody that they’re interested in and nobody pays attention to the “reading level” of it so to speak. The kids don’t. There’s not that stigma that I think comes with being at a lower reading level.

What do you want the audience to know about you, to make them want to read your book?

My goal is to provide a resource for kids that struggle with reading and/or have challenges finding books at their reading level on a topic they resonate with. In my son’s case, he was obsessed with sports instantly. But the non-fiction books were typically at a higher reading level, or he thought there were “too many words on the page.” I try to provide a resource for those parents in a similar situation.

Is there any advice that you would give to parents who have struggling readers?

I think one of the things is you definitely have to find something they’re interested in. I think that goes with anything really. Especially when they’re little. The thing that I think deterred a lot of times with my son is that if he was struggling with a book or a page and it had a lot of words on it, he would automatically tune out.

In my books, I’ve got a lot of images and just short graphs. There was a purpose for that; two and three and four paragraphs became very intimidating for some of the kids that are struggling with just basic words. And so they check out. It’s just like going into a massive task where you have all this stuff and it just becomes overwhelming.

I really think you can find something and start off small and you get bits and bits and bits like that and they get more into it. I do fun facts at the end of every book– it’s just short and things that they can relate to. They are just goofy little things, like the favorite color of this or favorite food or whatever it is. It’s just something that a kid can relate to and that they get, and that they’re interested in.