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on September 11, 2025
Commercial programs such as Read 180, Wilson Reading System, and Lexia Learning, just to name a few, deliver comprehensive, structured approaches to help struggling readers. These programs provide targeted instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and spelling. They serve as a valuable tool for educators, providing valuable data to monitor student progress and adjust instructional strategies as needed.
Charlie was diagnosed with dysgraphia, a learning disorder that affected his writing skills. It was not merely about poor handwriting but also involved other complex issues like ideas not syncing with writing, seeing letters backwards, and difficulty in understanding punctuation and spaces. As a result, Charlie was less enthusiastic about studying and displaying reduced confidence levels. His parents sought help from a specialized tutor and an occupational therapist and started researching different pedagogical approaches to help improve his writing skills.
Teaching kids to use calendars, planners, or checklist apps is another effective way to develop their organizational skills. These visual organizers can help them keep track of their tasks, assignments, and deadlines. Teaching them to use these tools will enable them to see their responsibilities and the time they have left to complete them. This also fosters the habit of staying on task, accomplishing objectives, and feeling the accomplishment of task completion.
In response, the educational sector has been developing innovative resources to facilitate the learning process. Commercial programs, new technological tools, and non-profit organisations have established multiple strategies to help students overcome reading difficulties with promising results.
Non-profit organizations such as Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and Room to Read have shown a compounded commitment, seeking to address reading challenges on a grander scale. RIF, America's largest children's literacy non-profit, is committed to a literate America by inspiring a passion for reading among all children. On a global scale, Room to Read's Literacy Program seeks to ensure that children enter grade three with the reading skills and habits of reading they need to succeed — work that has so far benefited 16.8 million children across 16 countries.
Using "Graphic Organizers" is another effective tactic. These visual illustrations enable kids to see the relationships between different concepts and ideas in the text. For non-fiction reads, educators may use timelines, Venn diagrams, flow charts, or spider maps. For fiction, tools like character trait charts or story maps can help.
A lack of reading comprehension skills in children can lead to a number of issues academically and socially. Those who struggle to understand what they read, might also struggle to keep up with peers academically or be stigmatized. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that children are encouraged to read and develop strong reading comprehension skills at an early age.
Importantly, understanding that every child's reading ability and comprehension level is unique is key. What works for one may not work for another. Hence, customization of learning tactics and strategies according to the child's pace and style is crucial.
The intervention for Charlie shows an individualized and comprehensive approach to help children with writing difficulties. By blending techniques such as multisensory instruction, fine motor skill development, use of assistive technology, confidence building, and teaching strategic learning skills, Charlie was given the tools he needed to overcome his struggles with writing. His increased confidence and ability to communicate through writing brought an all-new sense of enthusiasm for learning.
After a year and a half of consistent work, there was a notable improvement in his writing skills. His letters were now readable, and his sentences made sense. More importantly, his confidence level surged, and he began to enjoy writing activities. These improvements had a ripple effect on all other aspects of Charlie’s academic performance, leading to a marked improvement in overall grades and a renewed love for learning.
While the prompts listed above veer towards fantasy, do not feel restricted to only this genre. Cats acting aristocratic, a society of rodents, or talking toads - the beauty of creative writing stems from the power to render anything possible.
Reading and reading comprehension for children isn’t just about learning and school - it opens doors to imagination, critical thinking, empathy, and understanding the world better. As author Emilie Buchwald famously said, "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents", it conveys how influential parents can be in guiding their kids to become proficient readers.
Creative writing is a fantastic way to enhance a child's critical thinking, vocabulary, and communication skills. Here, we will explore how popular books can inspire engaging creative writing prompts and inspire kids to explore their imaginations.