Videos

Grade Level

Series

Reading SOS: Getting stuck on sight words

Reading expert Linda Farrell suggests this teaching sequence for sight words: first, be sure your child knows all the letter names, then all the letter sounds—and then you can introduce a few short high-frequency words such as was.

The Importance of Alphabetic Principle

Reading researcher Dr. Louisa Moats explains the need for understanding the alphabetic principle.

Linda Farrell: Learning Multisyllabic Words with Silent "e" and Vowel Teams

Linda Farrell discusses how to approach multisyllabic words that feature silent “e” or vowel teams.

Reading SOS: Sounding out the same words again and again

Reading expert Linda Farrell shares a simple tip: encourage your child to silently “think” the sounds as he reads the word.

Parents Promote Writing

Reading experts explain why parents should create opportunities for their children to write.

Reading Multisyllable Words with Xavier, Third Grader

Reading expert Linda Farrell shows Xavier how to read and spell unfamiliar multisyllable words with one vowel letter in each syllable.

Reading SOS: How do I explain "ea"?

A parent asks about the best way to the “ea” vowel combination, or vowel team.

Invented Spelling

First-grade teacher Carol Spinello turns a spelling lesson into something of a game.

Writing SOS: Is there value to having my child learn prefixes and suffixes?

Writing expert William Van Cleave explains that prefixes and suffixes are useful to learn because they help children understand meaning, build vocabulary, and learn how to spell and decode.