World of Reading

Basic Skills

The research on reading is crystal clear. Students must read well to take advantage of educational opportunities and achieve success in our competitive world. We know what to do to teach reading skills. Total Learning Centers uses sophisticated testing to determine exactly where a student has difficulty and then reteaches those skills to make that area much stronger.

 

To be strong readers, students need to master:

  • Phonemic Segmentation
  • Alphabetic Principle -- Sound/Symbol Relationships
  • Decoding
  • Encoding (spelling)
  • Advanced Word Analysis
  • Vocabulary Development
  • Sight Word Instruction
  • Fluency (accuracy and speed)
  • Comprehension with Visualization
  • Metacognition

 

TLC uses a scientifically designed, research-based Orton Gillingham reading curriculum that enables students to effectively use strategies to read and spell. This curriculum begins by teaching the phonetic codes and symbols for words to ensure fluent and accurate reading and spelling. Successful reading instruction must be simultaneous, systematic, and employ the use of cumulative multisensory teaching.

 

Signs Your Child Should Be Tested
(If your child has any of these signs they should receive an evaluation of reading skills.)

Kindergarten through 4th Grades
Has difficulty sounding out single words
Slow to learn letters and sounds
Confuses small words - at, to, said, and, does, goes
Makes consistent reading and spelling errors
Letter reversals - d for b, as for in, dog for bog
Word reversals - tip for pit
Inversions - m and w, u and n
Transpositions - felt and left
Substitutions - house and home
May transpose number sequences and confuse arithmetic signs (+ - x / =)

5th Through 8th Grade
Usually reading below grade level
Reverses letter sequences - soiled/solid, left/felt
May be slow to learn prefixes, suffixes, root words, and other reading and spelling strategies
May have difficulty spelling, spells same word differently on the same page

 

Also see our World of Reading - Comprehension.

Learn about other TLC Programs for success for your child.
We also offer a wide range of Programs for Teens and Programs for Adults.