Learn more about helping your child become a better reader.
Throwback Thursday: 7 Books From Our Childhood
Oh, the nostalgia. Nothing beats reading through your childhood favorite book. Summer nights present the perfect opportunity to read these with your family! How many of these favorites did you read as a child? Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume From Amazon:...
The Importance of Daily, Intensive Reading Instruction
Is your child falling behind their classmates when it comes to reading? It is important to close that gap quickly, because while your child's reading is improving with tutoring, their peers are also improving and the gap widens. With that in mind, it is easy to see...
Why You Should Keep Reading Over the Summer
Did you know that American students have not always had a long summer vacation? Before the Civil War, kids that lived on farms went to school during the hottest and coldest months and stayed home during the months they were needed on the farm. Meanwhile, kids in the...
Summer Suggestions
Wondering what you should do to keep your child's skills sharp or to better prepare him or her for school next fall? There are 6 key areas you should think about. Each will take only minutes a day. Why not set aside some time each day this summer to keep your child's...
5 Books That Celebrate Dad
Father’s Day is almost here! To celebrate, we’ve rounded up a list of some great children’s books featuring amazing dads! Grab one of these titles this weekend, read it as a family, and enjoy the time spent together. 1) Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary From...
How to Prevent the Summer Slide….Read, Read, Read!
Do you know how to prevent the “summer slide”? Read, read, read! When kids are engaged in reading during the summer, they are better prepared for the new school year. Luckily, there are many great programs to keep them motivated. Here are some of our favorites:...
4 Apps That Help Build Spelling Skills
Debra Bauder, Ed.D., Associate Professor at the University of Louisville recently spoke to a group of 50 education professionals in a lecture hosted by Langsford. She shared a wealth of information about Assistive technology, including apps that can help your child...
Dads, This Blog Post is for You!
Mother’s Day is right around the corner… have you decided on how you will celebrate the special mother in your life? We have a quick gift from the kids that she will love, which also makes for great writing practice…a Mother’s Day appreciation card! They’re super...
5 Books to Celebrate Mom
Mother’s Day is almost here! To celebrate, we’ve rounded up a list of some great children’s books featuring amazing moms! Grab one of these titles this weekend, read it as a family, and enjoy the time spent together. 1. Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman From Amazon:...
Assistive Technology
Do you know the 3 levels of Assistive Technology? Langsford recently hosted a presentation on Assistive Technology. Debra Bauder, Ed.D., Associate Professor at the University of Louisville shared lots of great information with 50 educators from Louisville schools....
12 Reasons to Visit Your Local Library
Did you know April is National Library Month? This month is a great time to give your local library a visit. Here are some of the reasons you should. 1) Free books! You have a tremendous amount of knowledge at your fingertips, and it’s all free! 2) Fun for kids! Most...
How to Choose the Perfect Book For Your Child
“This book is too easy…this book is too hard…this book is just right!” Ok, so that might not be what Goldilocks said in the story, but it is what you will be saying after taking our advice on how to choose the perfect book for your child to read independently. What...
Spring Break Reading Opportunities
Spring is here! School is out for a quick break, but there are still plenty of other opportunities for some reading! If you’re leaving on a trip: Read about the spot before you go—you’ll be even more excited to get there after hearing about all the awesome things the...
4 Quick Tips for Taking That Test
A little strategy can help your child ace a multiple-choice test. Here are some tips: 1. Tell him to try reading the questions before the passage. This way, he’ll know what to focus on in the passage. 2. If she is allowed to mark on the passage, have her mark in the...
7 Study Strategies to Help Your Child Ace That Test!
You know what the end of the year brings—tests! Here are some quick tips to help ensure your child is ready to ace their test. 1. Ensure that they stay organized, with different folders for each class. 2. Set up a quiet study space that is free from distractions. 3....
7 Things Your Child’s Teacher Wishes You Would Tell Them
While your child's teacher is an expert in educating children, no one knows your child as well as you do. Students do best when parents and teachers work together as partners. That means parents sharing any information about their child that might affect their school...
Communicating With Your Child’s School
"I thought everything was fine!" Have you ever been surprised when report cards came home? The sharing of information between teachers and parents is essential if you want to have a complete picture of how your child is doing in school. Communicating regularly with...
Reading Problem or Comprehension Problem?
"Why can't I get this?" Sometimes there is confusion about the underlying cause of a student's academic problems. These problems are often associated with reading. However, reading is not a simple process and so when we talk about reading, we could be referring to...
Hmmmm….
Hmmmmmmm....... I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I'm not sure that what you heard is what I actually meant! Have you ever been on either end of this scenario? It is frustrating for both parties. Language comprehension is essential for one...
Holiday Thank You Notes– Easy as 1-2-3!
Some traditions or acts of etiquette should never go out of style. Alas, in this day of instant gratification, email, and texting, thank you letters seems to have fallen out of vogue. But who doesn't like to see a handwritten thank you note show up in the mail?...
Getting Kids to Write
How can a child who can talk all day long become resistant, grumpy and generally unhappy when given a writing assignment? What's so hard about writing? Most kids who don’t like to write think they just aren’t good at it and it is no fun. The key is to give kids tools...
An Important Step in the Writing Process
Visualizing, or imaging.....We do it all the time! Both are terms referring to the act of making mental pictures in your mind. We are visualizing when we read a book and picture the characters and events. We are visualizing when we listen to oral directions and see...
Anxiety and Related Disorders
Anxiety and Emotional Regulation Presentation Kevin Chapman, Ph.D., recently presented on the spectrum of anxiety and related disorders. He specifically focused on emotional regulation in school-aged youth. Dr. Chapman discussed the best practices in the field of...
Staff Spotlight: Toni
For the next several weeks, we will be featuring one staff member a week. This week, we are featuring Toni! We asked her a few questions, and here are her answers. What is your favorite book?: That changes often. Right now it is The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (or...
Writing Practice That Will Develop Gratitude
In November, we traditionally think about all of the things we are thankful for. Creating this Thankful Tree will leave your child feeling an attitude of gratitude! 1.) Gather a bunch of twigs and sticks and place them into a mason jar (or get really creative and use...
College Search Q&A
What must you consider as a family to help your student shape his or her college list? Langsford recently hosted a Q&A session with local college advisor Leigh Moore. Leigh discussed effective list development and answered questions about college admissions. ...
Reading Fluency
Reading Fluency is one the five essential components of effective reading instruction. The National Reading Panel evaluated over 100,000 research studies and determined that there are 5 critical components for reading instruction. There is no longer a debate in...
October: Dyslexia Awareness Month
When parents are concerned about their child's reading development they might think, dyslexia. Over the decades, dyslexia has become a common term used to describe a person with a reading difficulty. What we know today, however, is that dyslexia has a very specific...
Staff Spotlight: Katie
For the next several weeks, we will be featuring one staff member a week. This week, we are featuring Katie! We asked her a few questions, and here are her answers. What is your favorite book?: Leaves of Grass, Jane Eyre, Winnie the Pooh What did you want to be when...
The Best Literacy Apps for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
The preschool and kindergarten years are important for developing a solid foundation for reading, spelling, and writing. There are many apps out there that will help you give your child the practice they need at this crucial time. Here are some apps that are shown to...
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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.