Tag Archives: Improve Reading Comprehension

How Reading Skills Improve Academics for Kids

How Reading Skills Improve Academics for Kids

Enhancing children’s reading skills is a cornerstone of academic success. As young minds embark on their educational journey, the ability to read proficiently opens the door to a world of knowledge and critical thinking. This essential skill not only provides the basis for academic success but also fosters a lifelong passion for learning.

The following are ways in which reading skills help improve the academic performance of kids:

Comprehension and Retention

Proficient reading involves not just decoding words but also understanding the meaning behind them. This skill enables children to grasp concepts more easily and retain information longer, providing a solid foundation for subsequent learning.

Vocabulary Expansion

Regular exposure to a variety of texts introduces children to new words and phrases. A robust vocabulary is crucial for effective communication in academic settings, enabling students to express themselves clearly and precisely.

Critical Thinking

Reading diverse materials challenges children to think critically about the information presented. They learn to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize information, fostering a more profound understanding of complex concepts and enhancing their problem-solving skills.

Academic Performance

Reading is an integral part of nearly every subject. Strong reading skills directly contribute to improved performance in various academic tasks, from understanding math problems to interpreting historical events.

Writing Proficiency

Exposure to well-written texts serves as a model for effective communication. Proficient readers often become adept writers, as they naturally absorb different writing styles and structures, enhancing their ability to convey ideas coherently.

Research Skills

The ability to extract information from various sources is a fundamental aspect of reading. Proficient readers develop strong research skills, an asset for academic projects and assignments across different subjects.

Confidence Building

Success in reading, whether mastering challenging texts or completing books, contributes significantly to a child’s confidence. This positive reinforcement creates a mindset that embraces challenges and sees learning as an achievable pursuit.

Problem-Solving Abilities

Exposure to diverse narratives and informational texts equips children with different perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. This flexibility in thinking enhances their ability to tackle challenges creatively and effectively.

Cognitive Development

Reading engages various cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and concentration. The mental effort required to understand and process information in texts stimulates overall cognitive development, influencing a child’s capacity to learn and understand complex concepts.

Cultivating Curiosity

Reading sparks curiosity by introducing children to a multitude of topics and ideas. As they explore different subjects through reading, children develop a genuine interest in learning, laying the groundwork for a lifelong pursuit of knowledge.

Refining a child’s ability to read proficiently has a substantial impact on their academic trajectory. This extends beyond improving comprehension to nurturing critical thinking, fostering both academic success and a sustained passion for continuous learning.

To know more about ways to improve reading skills and reading tools offered by See-n-Read, you can visit 2533 Sutton Lane, Aurora, IL 60502-9461, or call 1-630-236-5592. You can also browse the reading tools at www.see-n-read.com

Reading Comprehension Tools For ADHD Learners

Reading Comprehension Tools For ADHD Learners

Enhancing reading comprehension skills is crucial for academic success, and for learners with ADHD, targeted tools can make a significant difference in their ability to engage with and grasp textual content. These tools go beyond traditional methods, providing tailored strategies to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with ADHD.

The following tools can be instrumental in fostering improved understanding and retention of textual information in kids with ADHD:

See-N-Read Reading Strips

See-N-Read reading strips are a valuable tool designed to alleviate the challenges that ADHD learners face during reading. These strips employ colored overlays to effectively reduce visual stress and enhance focus, creating a more conducive environment for comprehension. The strips act as guides, subtly highlighting lines of text and aiding in smoother reading. By minimizing visual distractions, they offer a targeted solution to enhance the reading experience for individuals with ADHD, allowing them to concentrate on the content.

MemoryMark

This tool has been created with the specific purpose of helping individuals memorize and retain important information. By providing a structured approach to reinforce memory, MemoryMark becomes a valuable asset in supporting ADHD students. Its functionality extends beyond the act of reading itself, contributing to improved recall and comprehension of textual information.

eSee-N-Read

eSee-N-Read represents a fusion of traditional See-N-Read technology with modern electronic features. The electronic nature of eSee-N-Read allows for a personalized approach, catering to the individual needs and preferences of ADHD learners. This technology-integrated reading support dynamically enhances comprehension and engagement.

See-N-Spell

See-N-Spell is a specialized tool addressing the spelling challenges frequently associated with ADHD. By integrating visual aids into the learning process, this tool reinforces spelling patterns and promotes word recognition. See-N-Spell surpasses traditional spelling assistance by offering visual support, employing a multi-sensory approach that resonates effectively with ADHD learners. This tool fosters a deeper understanding of language structure and word relationships.

ColorTAG

ColorTAG emerges as a distinctive tool that uses color-coded tagging to aid ADHD learners in organizing and highlighting critical information during reading. The use of colors serves as a visual organizational system, making it easier for individuals with ADHD to locate and focus on key details within the text. By enhancing the visual structure of information, ColorTAG contributes to a more organized and streamlined reading experience.

See-N-Read presents a suite of reading comprehension tools designed to address the unique needs of ADHD learners. Tailored with precision, these tools are a strategic ally in overcoming challenges associated with ADHD, promoting not just reading skills but also bolstering overall academic performance.

To know more about reading tools by See-N-Read, you can visit 2533 Sutton Lane, Aurora, IL 60502-9461, or call 1-630-236-5592. You can also browse the reading tools at www.see-n-read.com or connect on social media platforms.

Visual Processing Disorder: What You Can Do To Help

There is much more involved in vision than just being able to see words or pictures. The brain must also coordinate eye movements so both eyes see the same thing at once, perform complex activities like interpreting forms and perceiving spatial relations, plus be able to identify different parts that make up a whole. These examples offer a clearer idea of how visual processing works. Each day, students are bombarded with complex visual data to sort out: images, numbers or words and so on. Children with a type of visual processing disorder have difficulty taking in all that imagery and making sense of it.

Schools check for vision acuity on a regular basis but may fail to consider specific processing challenges that affect learning. As an educator, you have the ability to identify visual processing disorders and help manage them to improve learning.

What is Visual Processing Disorder?

Visual processing disorder is an umbrella term for conditions that affect how the brain processes visual information. You can break these disorders down into different categories:

  • Form discrimination – Being able to tell the difference between a circle and a square, for example. This is critical in every aspect of learning. A child who can’t discern shapes won’t know an “A” from a “B” or the number “1” from “2”.
  • Size discrimination – Another essential for reading because often capital and lower case letters look the same
  • Spatial relations – This refers to the ability to perceive letters in their correct position. For example, this child may not see the letter “q” correctly because it dips lower than the other letters in the words. It may seem to float away from the line and be separate from the word.
  • Synthesis – This is the ability to see that different parts fit together to create something whole. Consider a drawing of a house. A child with this form of visual processing disorder may see squares that are windows, a rectangle that is a door and a triangle roof but will fail to visually combine them to see the house.
  • Analysis – Analysis is the reverse of synthesis. This child sees the house but not the individual shapes that make it up.
  • Visual closure – For most people, the brain has an uncanny ability to fill the holes and find closure. A sentence missing a definite article still comes together because the brain fills in that empty space. In some cases, the brain has limited ability to find that closure. The sentence missing a “the” fails to register as a sentence, for example, or a picture of a house without a door becomes unrecognizable.

How to Recognize Visual Processing Disorder?

Ultimately, the final diagnosis should come from a specialist, but teachers can look for clues of visual processing disorders such as:

  • Difficulty telling similar letters apart
  • Clumsiness
  • Trouble focusing on an assignment or on visual presentations
  • Difficulty writing words, sentences or stories (not age appropriate). The handwriting might be messy, with letters going off the lines or in the wrong place
  • Confuses math signs
  • Poor memory
  • Trouble researching
  • Seems to get lost in the material

Finding the right classroom tools can help. The See-N-Read® reading strip, for example, provides focal points for students as they read while blocking out unnecessary visual information while ColorTag can improve recall. Paper with raised lines aids students to improve their handwriting, as well.

Not every child who has a hard time reading has a visual processing disorder but, after you rule out the need for glasses, it’s time to look for other reasons they are struggling to comprehend. With proper evaluation and the right learning tools, students with visual processing challenges can learn and succeed.

How To Improve Your Spelling Skills

Some spellings have always been tough to remember due to their contradictions and exceptions. While certain words have silent letters, others are spelled differently in spite of having the same pronunciation, which may cause confusion.

If you find it difficult to spell certain words correctly, you may use the following tricks to sharpen your skills:

Learn the rules – English language comprises of words with different pronunciations and writing styles. You may not be able to remember all the rules at once but, you can always begin by noticing the common patterns in diverse words. It is important to note that all spelling rules applied in this language are not universal therefore, you must be aware of their exceptions as well.

Read a lot – Reading is the best technique to improve your vocabulary and reduce spelling errors. While reading you encounter various words that unnoticeably sink in your mind and help you spell better. Reading newspapers and magazines can also help you to get hold over the newest forms and elocution of words. In case you do not understand a word, you can use a dictionary.

Learn via crosswords – Puzzles are a good way to challenge your thinking and exercise your mind. You may solve various crosswords to learn new spellings. The hints given to fill the grid down and across will help you to find the appropriate words along with their meanings. This exercise also aids in remembering the words with their correct meanings and spellings.

Watch English shows with subtitles – captioned and subtitled TV shows are one the best ways to learn spellings and pronunciation of words. You may not be able to make notes, but you’ll definitely grasp the difference between the correctly and incorrectly spelled words.

Spelling competition and quizzes – This is an interesting and a fun-filled way to learn spellings. You can ask your friends to spell out the words that you find tricky and vice versa, or you can just play the online spelling quizzes.

Write whenever you spell – Make a habit of jotting down the words you try to spell. In order to keep a record, you can even make a notebook that comprises of all the newly learned words. It will act as quick reference guide to the words, which you often find difficult to spell.

Take help of reading tools – If you have trouble remembering the correct spellings, consider consulting books that are specifically designed to resolve such issues. For the convenience of the readers, these books are divided into various sections like misspelled words, commonly used words, special interest words etc. You can use them to verify the correct usage of any word.

See-N-Spell™ is an effective tool designed to improve spelling and build academic vocabulary in people of all age groups. For more information, you can call at (630) 236 – 5592.

How To Overcome Distractions While Reading

Good reading skills can be beneficial in all spheres of life. Whether you are a student or a professional, it is common to face distractions while reading. A peaceful and conducive environment can help to concentrate better. Let’s take a look at some other tips which can help to overcome distractions while reading:

Set the place

It is very important to choose a right place as it can affect the reading speed. You may like to read in your room but you can easily get distracted by TV or video games. Make sure you find a quiet and well-lit place that is free from any sort of distractions. You can even visit a library for this purpose. If you are planning to read continuously for a few hours, ascertain that you have a comfortable chair and table. This will help to maintain the right posture and improve reading efficiency.

Develop a routine

You should create a fixed schedule for reading. Know the time which suits you the best and read during those hours. This will help to improve your concentration. Generally, mornings are considered to be the most preferred time to read as the mind is fresh.

Turn off all electronic devices

Notifications, incoming calls and texts can cause a lot of disturbance. Make sure you switch your mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc. off while reading. It will help you to stay focused and increase your reading speed.

Take frequent breaks

Performing the same task for extended period of time can be monotonous. That is why you should take regular breaks while reading. During this time, you can get involved in some other recreational activities, watch TV or listen to music. When you get back to reading, you will feel more active and fresh which will help you to keep distractions at bay.

Track your performance

You can set reading goals and monitor your performance regularly. Look for the methods that help you read faster and minimize distractions. If you find improvement in your speed, continue using these techniques. In case you do not get good results, consider changing your reading schedule or methods. This will help to enhance your reading fluency.

Use Reading Tools

There are many reading tools available that can help you to concentrate and improve your comprehension skills. The reading strip present in these tools will filter out the distractions so that you are better able to maintain place on the page.
If you follow the above mentioned tips, you will be able to attain maximum focus while reading.

See-N-Read Reading Tools can help to reduce distractions and improve concentration while reading. For more information about the tools, feel free to call at (630) 236-5592.

How To Improve Reading Speed And Comprehension

Reading fluency is an essential skill which can be inculcated by using various techniques. It can not only help you comprehend information, but also manage time in a better way. Whether you are a student or professional, having good reading skills can be beneficial for you in the long run.  

Here are a few techniques which can improve reading speed and comprehension:

  • Skim material for main ideas: You should scan the outline of the content to get an idea about the information. This will give you a clear picture about the topics that you can skip and those that require more concentration. Understanding the structure of the content can help to improve reading speed.
  • Prioritize your reading: It is essential to categorize the reading material in order of its significance. This can make you aware about the most important aspects and read accordingly.
  • Choose a suitable environment: Reading in a peaceful place without any distractions improves concentration. It is important to set an angle while reading to avoid eye strain and ensure a comfortable reading experience.
  • Improve vocabulary: Improving vocabulary can reduce the time taken to understand a topic. You can maintain a notebook to jot down unfamiliar words as it can help you read faster.
     Reading with a fresh mind:  It is essential to stay focused while reading. You can read preferably in the morning or late at night as the mind is free from distractions at that time.
  • Form questions: You can create questions from the headings given in the reading material. This can help in analyzing the information in a better way. Thus, you will be to read efficiently in a lesser time.
  • Practice: Regular practice can help you comprehend and read faster. Initially you can start with the reading material that you find interesting. This will help in creating a good reading habit.    
  • Eliminate sub vocalization: The habit of sub vocalization (uttering words while reading) can have a great impact on your reading. It can lower down your reading speed and fluency. Thus, sub vocalization should be avoided for better results.
  • Keep a track on your progress: It is a good idea to take a self-test at frequent intervals to keep a check on your reading speed. This can keep you on the right track and provide motivation for further improvement.

See-N-Read Reading Tools aim at improving reading speed and comprehension. The research based tools have been designed to help people of all ages read faster while reducing distractions on the page. For more information, you can call at (630) 236 – 5592.

Improve Reading Comprehension – Strategies That Work

Good reading comprehension is essential for success in both academics and everyday life. It helps students understand and retain any information while reading. Improving reading comprehension essentially encompasses three different aspects, pre-reading tasks, reading strategies and post-reading, to efficiently store information into the long-term memory.

Here are some effective strategies that can help to improve reading comprehension:

  • Form Connections: Before starting to read the text, ask the child to have an overview of what the content is all about. Allow him to recollect any similar topics that he may have read before or any connections that he may have. For instance, the passage may mention places that the child has visited in the past. Let him talk about the memories of those places so that he is better able to understand.
  • Read In Chunks: While reading, ask the child to segregate the content into small chunks. Make him stop after each paragraph and recapitulate what all he has read. Put up questions about what happened, the main idea of the lesson and what could happen next. Also, encourage him to highlight the key points so that he can recall and retain information anytime later. Have Him
  • Read Aloud: Reading aloud compels the child to go about slowly, making it easier to understand. Also, he can form connections between the information he already knows and the one he is currently reading. Ask him to jot down any unfamiliar or complex words that he may come across in the text. Hold Post-Reading
  • Discussion: After the child has finished reading, hold a discussion in the classroom where everyone can discuss their doubts. Asking questions, sharing opinions and listening to that of others promote a better understanding of the content. Repeated
  • Readings: It is important for the child to read fluently to improve comprehension. After reading the text once, allow them to go through it once again. Being familiar with the words and context will help them read fast as well as smoothly. Encourage them to frame a story out of the passage, recite it to others and draw inferences to improve retention.

See-N-Read Reading Tools can help to improve reading comprehension in kids of all age groups. The research based products are designed to help children read fluently, while minimizing distractions on the page. To know more about the reading tools, you can call at (630) 236 – 5592.

Tools To Improve Students’ Reading Comprehension

The ability to comprehend and remember reading material is extremely important for students to be successful. Improving reading comprehension can help a reader connect better with the information given on a page and apply to his existing knowledge.

Here are some useful tools to improve student’s reading comprehension skills:

  • Pre-Reading Tasks: Before beginning to read the text, students must be asked to take a brief review of what the topic discusses. They must be encouraged to recollect as much information as they can about it along with any related topics that they may have read in the past. Reading comprehension is closely associated with prior knowledge. As students are likely to frame a reference for the content that they are about to read it is useful to remember previous reads. You should make notes of the information that they are able to gather.
  • Learn New Vocabulary Words: As they go about reading the passage, make a list of unfamiliar or complex words. Allow them to refer to the dictionary to search for meanings of all these words. Writing down the definitions will also make them memorize better than by typing or simply reading.  
  • Set A Purpose For Reading: Students must also have a clear idea about the actual purpose of reading the text. For this, they need to read the questions given at the end of the passage. It will allow them to focus on the answers of those questions as they read.
  • Generate Questions: By asking questions relevant to the text, students tend to have a better understanding of the entire concept. Generate questions that require them to combine different segments of the passage in order to frame the answer. For instance, students can be asked what the main idea of the passage is, who the key characters are, what the theme is and what is likely to occur next.
  • Story Retelling: Reading comprehension can also be improved by asking students to recite a rough draft of the story to partners. Through this, they can frame the passage in their own words and relate them to their knowledge. Restating also helps to improve their recall memory of the information.

 

For more tips on how to improve reading comprehension, you can contact See-N-Read Reading Tools at (630) 236 – 5592.