Today’s episode is all about early reading strategies for kids ages 3 to 8. This is the perfect topic for so many homeschool parents who are homeschooling through the early years.
Dr. Deanna Westedt is our guest and in this episode we cover the key stages of literacy development that homeschool parents need to know. We also dive into early literacy strategies, the importance of phonics, and insights on helping struggling readers.
Many new homeschooling parents feel anxious about the responsibility of teaching their kids how to read. But with some basic understanding of literacy development and helpful tools to use in with your kids, you’ll be armed with early reading strategies for your youngest kids.
Understanding Literacy Development
There are key stages of literacy development in children that build on one another. Listen in on this chat with Dr. Deanna Westedt to learn:
- What is the average age of reading development and what is the developmental age range of reading development?
- What are the most important skills parents and educators should focus on to support early literacy?
- What is the connection between literacy development and overall academic success or lifelong learning?
- Many homeschool parents feel pressured to have their kids reading early. What does the research say about that?
Literacy Challenges & Solutions
Dr. Deanna has the experience of having a son diagnosed with dysgraphia. She walks through some of the common learning disabilities and how she accommodated them in her homeschool.
We’ll talk through these issues:
- What do I do if I think my child might have a learning disability associated with reading/writing? How do I know if my child is struggling with learning to read or write due to a learning disability?
- Your son was diagnosed with dysgraphia. First, can you tell us what dysgraphia is – what are the signs – and What were some accommodations you implemented for him?
- What are some common challenges children face when developing literacy skills, and how can parents help overcome them?
Approaches & Methods to Teaching Your Kids How to Read
You CAN teach your kids ages 3 to 8 to read – even if you don’t have formal training! Listen to episode 287 to hear about the best approaches and methods for early reading strategies in your homeschool.
- What is the biggest misconception of reading development that you often see?
- What is the number one question you get asked about reading development?
- What are some effective strategies or methods for teaching reading to young learners?
Dr. Deanna’s Learning for Littles Videos
Deanna has a fun YouTube channel – Dr. Deanna’s Learning for Littles – where you can access her reading videos for your homeschool.
You can also connect with Deanna here:
Listen to Episode 287 of the Podcast
Deanna Westedt is a homeschooling mom who left education after getting a doctorate to homeschool her own boys! Her mission is to share literacy development with families and answer their biggest questions about growing their child’s reading. Deanna has created a free YouTube channel, Dr. Deanna’s Learning for Littles, to provide families with a free resources. Here’s our conversation about how to be successful with teaching your kids how to read.
