Why Reading Intervention Must Begin Early
Window of Opportunity
Kindergarten and first grade are deemed to be the “window of opportunity” to prevent long-term reading problems. Without early intervention, the “reading gap” between struggling readers and their peers continues to widen over time.
Language Development
Early intervention can mitigate the severity of later word-level reading problems, spelling, and writing issues as students progress through the grades. Waiting to intervene only creates larger gaps to fill between grade levels.
Social Development
Studies where at-risk kids received early intervention, show that 95% of them did not fall behind their peers and that they experienced fewer emotional struggles.
Brain Development
Intervention in kindergarten through third grade is important to learn to read because you have to give the brain an opportunity to make the connections between what words look like and what words sound like.
Importance of Early Intervention
The ultimate goal of becoming a proficient reader is automaticity in word recognition. To do that the brain needs time to program the required “reading systems.” If you wait to get early intervention or the intervention is failing and your student is still struggling, you must shift directions to an intervention where progress is shown. For students that are identified late for reading problems, behavior, anxiety, and self-esteem issues develop and increase over time.
Studies also show that 74 percent of children who display reading problems in the third grade will remain poor readers into adulthood unless they receive targeted instruction on reading and phonological awareness. Students need to have the ability to sound out new words and have another bank of words they can read automatically from kindergarten into first grade. The ability to create a connection between letters and their sounds affects spelling and writing more than reading.
If students can memorize words but continue to have poor reading comprehension, this may be a by-product of not reading with accuracy and at a pace to visualize the meaning of the text. Reading difficulties exist on a continuum from having a minor problem to a very severe problem. Many students are able to acquire the skills necessary to become successful readers with the help of a qualified reading tutor who can identify the root of the problem.
What can I do now?
At The Study Hub, we have experienced tutors who are able to provide individualized instruction so students can gain the skills they need to be successful readers. We understand the importance of early intervention and the impact it can have on students as they progress through their educational careers. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your child become a successful reader!
Written by Dr. Barbara Bayless
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Kindergarten and first grade are the "window of opportunity" to prevent long-term reading problems. It is best to start as early as you see signs of difficulty with reading.
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Early intervention can mitigate the severity of later word-level reading problems, spelling, and writing issues as students progress through the grades. It also gives the brain an opportunity to make the connections between what words look like and what words sound like.
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Studies show that 95% of at-risk kids who received early intervention did not fall behind their peers and experienced fewer emotional struggles
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Automaticity in word recognition is important because it allows the brain to program the required “reading systems” and understand the connections between letters and their sounds, which affects spelling and writing more than reading.
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A qualified reading tutor can provide individualized instruction to help students acquire the skills necessary to become successful readers by identifying the root, teaching phonemic awareness, and diligent fluency practice.