Learn more about helping your child become a better reader.
How to Help Your Child Learn Sight Words
While your child is learning to read, you may get a note from the teacher that says “I’d really like you to work on sight words.” Sight words are words that occur many times in a lot of texts. There are actually lists you can find with the most frequent sight words....
How to Help Your Child Blend Unknown Words
Have you ever noticed your child break apart a word into its sounds, but then struggle to blend it all together? Sometimes children who are learning to read encounter an unknown word and they know the individual sounds of the word. However, when they try to blend the...
What To Do if Your Child’s Reading Doesn’t Make Sense
Many times, when children are developing their reading skills and they encounter a word they’ve never seen before, it is very common for them to guess what the word is and keep reading. They’re guessing by either the picture on the page, or the context of the sentence...
How to Help Your Child Be More Attentive to Reading Accuracy
Have you noticed that your child is guessing at words rather than sounding them out? It is very common for children to guess what a word is and keep reading when they are developing their reading skills and they encounter a word they’ve never seen before. They’re...
How to Help Your Child Read More Accurately
Have you noticed your child make small word errors when reading, like “a” instead of “the” or “in” instead of “on?” Sometimes those errors don’t matter because they don’t really change the meaning, but if you leave the word “not” out of a sentence, it will certainly...
A Simple Hack That Will Help Your Child Sound Out Words Easier
Does your child have difficulty recognizing words, or sounding out words that they don’t recognize? One thing that is important for them to focus on is the vowel sound in the word. Generally, when you look at the sounds that make up words, the consonants are pretty...
How to Prepare Your Child For a Different School Year
Is your child feeling nervous about the new school year? Whether your child is going back to school in person, or they will be engaging in non-traditional instruction for the first part of the school year, school will likely feel very different. It is important that...
3 Things to Do Now to Prepare for Going Back to School
Are you ready for your kids to head back to school? It is almost that time! Back-to-school time can be stressful for everyone involved. It may seem like there's not much to do to prepare (beyond the usual school supply shopping) but there are definitely things you can...
The #1 Thing Parents Can Do to Prepare for Back-to-School
No one knows your child like you do. As their parent, you likely have plenty of insight as to what their strengths and weaknesses are. We recently talked about two things you can help your child do to ensure they start the year off on the right foot. But the best...
Why Your Child Can’t Skip Their Reading Tonight
We’re sure you’ve heard it before—your child should be reading every day. But why? How much? It’s simple. We must be able to read to learn independently. Reading is required for every class, whether online or in-person, so in order to succeed in school, we must be...
How to Ease the Back-to-School Transition With Routines
Back to school time can be tough. After months of a more relaxed routine (or lack of a routine at all) we’re all expected to get back into a more structured routine. Without preparation, jumping into a new routine can be stressful for all involved. But it doesn’t have...
Langsford Lecture Series: ADHD from a Pediatrician’s Perspective
It can be difficult to sort out the facts about ADHD, so we invited an expert in the field to speak to education professionals at Langsford. Steve Johnson, M.D., Ph.D., shared the latest evidence-based information about ADHD. It is not just being hyper or having a...
6 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Parent-Teacher Conference
Parent-teacher conferences are important and necessary for proper communication about your child’s school performance. Here are 6 tips for getting the most out of them. 1.) Be prepared to listen and take notes. You may need to ask for an explanation if you don’t...
5 Tips to Help Your Child Understand What They Read
Does your child struggle to understand what they read sometimes? There are several skills you can work on with your child at home to improve their reading comprehension. 1) Ask Questions Avoid questions that are direct recall and instead ask questions like “what do...
Staff Spotlight: Kara
For the next several weeks, we will be featuring one staff member a week, highlighting their hobbies and getting to know them a little better. This week, our featured staff member is Kara! We asked her a few questions. You can find all of her answers below. What is...
Staff Spotlight: Morgan
Every week, we are featuring a Langsford staff member. This week, we are featuring Morgan! We asked her a few questions, and here are her answers. What is your favorite book? All of them! haha-- but since I have to choose, I'll say To Kill a Mockingbird. Basically, I...
Staff Spotlight: Gemma
For the next several weeks here, we will be featuring one Langsford staff member a week, highlighting their hobbies and getting to know them a little better. This week, our featured staff member is Gemma! We asked her a few questions. You can find all of her answers...
Staff Spotlight: Rhonda
For the next several weeks, we will be featuring one staff member a week, highlighting their interests and getting to know them a little better. This week, our featured staff member is Rhonda! We asked her a few questions. You can find all of her answers below. What...
Staff Spotlight: Judy
For the next several weeks, we will be featuring one Langsford staff member a week, highlighting their interests and getting to know them a little better. This week, our featured staff member is Judy! We asked her a few questions. You can find all of her answers...
Staff Spotlight: Jenny
Every week, we are featuring a Langsford staff member. This week, we are featuring Jenny! We asked her a few questions, and here are her answers. What is your favorite book? Secret Life of Bees. What did you want to be when you were growing up? It changed a lot. Still...
Staff Spotlight: Katie
For the next several weeks, we will be featuring one staff member a week, highlighting their hobbies and getting to know them a little better. This week, our featured staff member is Katie! We asked her a few questions. You can find all her answers below. What is your...
5 Things to Do if Your Child Hates Reading
Does your child “hate” reading? Often, children who “hate” reading find it difficult, exhausting, and therefore unenjoyable. If your child is struggling with reading, it’s imperative that they receive explicit reading instruction so that reading becomes easier for...
Building Comprehension With Summer Fun!
Background knowledge is a crucial piece of the language comprehension process. Your child may be able to read a story perfectly fine, but unless they have learned about the context of the story previously, they may be confused by the content. Working on increasing...
Stop the Summer Slide!
How do you prevent the “summer slide”? Reading, reading, and more reading! When kids are engaged in reading during the summer, they are much better prepared for the school year ahead. Luckily, there are nearly endless opportunities to help keep your children motivated...
Langsford Lecture Series: Educational Evaluations
Have you ever been a bit confused when interpreting educational tests? What are the best practices? In a recent presentation, Stephen McCrocklin, Langsford's Executive Director, gave an overview of several educational evaluations that are commonly used by...
5 Easter Books for Young Readers
What better gift to receive in an Easter basket than a book? Here are 5 recommendations that will fit perfectly in your basket. Clifford's First Easter by Norman Bridwell From Amazon: In the tradition of Clifford's Happy Easter, an adorable lift-a-flap book...
4 Places to Donate Your Used Books
It’s finally Spring! Have you found some unused books during your spring cleaning? Maybe you’re just wanting some extra space for new books. Whatever your reason, here is a list of where you can donate your books so they can find a new, happy home. 1) Libraries...
How to Prepare for that Standardized Test!
Standardized tests play a big role in public schools, and many private schools as well. As a parent, here are some things you can do to help ensure standardized test success! 1.) Be prepared. Teachers will often send home information—schedules and plans for the day(s)...
Feel Lucky With These 5 Books
Are you feeling lucky yet? Check out these 5 books to help you feel the Luck of the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day! Ten Lucky Leprechauns By Kathryn Heling From Amazon: Fiddle-de-fizz, 'tis magic, it is When leprechauns find each other. Count from one to ten as one...
Langsford Lecture Series: Maladaptive Daydreaming
If a child is often “in their own world” and routinely engages in repetitive movements, then they must have some form of Autism, right? Maybe not! If a parent or teacher describes a child as frequently off task because they constantly seem to be daydreaming, then they...
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9 Simple Ways to Boost Your Child’s Reading Confidence
BONUS: How to tell if they’re struggling to read and what to do about it.
Imagine your child being a confident reader and enthusiastic learner.
Don’t wait another minute to get your child the help they need.