Reading Efficiency, The Hidden Hurdle (Part 2)

Reading Efficiency, The Hidden Hurdle (Part 2) (Catch up on Part 1 here) Perceptual Span & Word Recognition A perceptual span is the number of letters a student can perceive and process during a single eye stop (fixation). The perceptual span of beginning readers and of most people who struggle with reading is smaller than the span of efficient readers.  Efficient readers are able to…

Reading Efficiency, The Hidden Hurdle (Part 1)

Reading Efficiency, The Hidden Hurdle (Part 1) What Is It? Reading efficiency is a critical component of reading proficiency. An efficient reading process is fluent and feels easy and comfortable. Efficient readers can read for extended periods of time with good comprehension because they expend little energy on the mechanics of reading. Mental resources are focused on making meaning from text. Why is it important?…

Vision Therapy

Vision Therapy Vision therapy combines the use of lenses, prisms and filters in a range of individually tailored activities aimed to improve visual efficiency and visual processing skills. At For Eyes Optometrist in Fremantle we have a new vision training system, called Vivid Vision Virtual Reality, which allows for vision therapy to be done in a virtual reality environment. This powerful system applies the latest…

Eye Tracking – Problems with Vision

Eye Tracking – Problems with Vision Children have a difficult time assessing their own vision. If something appears blurry, they assume everyone else sees it the same way and do not worry. Eye tracking would benefit readers and this refers to what, how, and when they read. Vision is particularly important to children because more than 80 percent of the information they receive about the…

How Smart Words helps dyslexic children to read and spell

How Smart Words helps dyslexic children to read and spell Many teachers ask us why and how Smart Words helps dyslexic children to read and spell. People wonder what makes Smart Words different from other programs that promote synthetic phonics as their focus. We see synthetic phonics as a part of a strong word study program.  We recognise that English is not a pure language and, if…

Julie Bradley acknowledged for her advice and guidance on a new teaching resource.

Julie Bradley acknowledged for her advice and guidance on a new teaching resource.     Congratulations to Sheena Cameron and Louise Dempsey and thank you for the acknowledgment. I’m sure The Reading Book will be as popular as The Writing Book and The Oral Language Book, also written by the same authors. The Reading Book is a comprehensive guide to teaching reading. It contains research-based information…

Lexia Core 5 aims to get students to level within a year

Lexia Core 5 aims to get students to level within a year. Lexia Core 5 sets itself to a child’s level of understanding. They will be allocated 5 skills to work on at each level. See the skills related to the level they are currently working on here…Lexia Core 5 scope and sequence. Lexia Core 5 aims to get students to level in reading within…

Recent Advances in Understanding Word-Level Reading Problems: Assessment and Highly Effective Intervention

Dr. David Kilpatrick’s National Tour. Nicole attended Dr. David Kilpatrick’s National Tour organized by LDA. Dr. Kilpatrick presented on ‘Recent Advances in Understanding Word-Level Reading Problems: Assessment and Highly Effective Intervention’. Julie and Nicole are currently reading through and summarising interesting and important information to share with parents. We will share snippets of information with you over the next few weeks. In summary… Dr. David…