A MOM’S 12 GOLDEN RULES

To help her child and other children who struggle with reading

1) TALK YOURSELF UP Do oral presentations whenever

you can. Go to public speaking classes. Use amazing visual aids to ‘wow’

your audience. Take part during class

discussions. Show what you know.

2) ONLY NEAT WORK Put yourself in your teacher’s shoes.

Use lots of colour to highlight.

Make your headings clear. Rule off neatly.

3) SPELL A FEW WELL Only learn 5 instead of the whole list.

Learn 5 new words a week. Stick them up where you can see them.

Practice, practice, practice!

4) LEARNING Whatever you learn, do it actively and colourfully.

Teach someone else (even if it’s the dog or cat).

Use drama, rhymes, colour, whatever works for you.

5) USE THE SPELLING MAT Lower case letters only. Position of letters same as keyboard.

Jump on the letters as you spell the word.

It is physical, visual and auditory.

Using both sides of the brain to spell.

THE SPELLING MAT

6) WRITING Write as much as you know. Don’t worry about spelling. Be as neat as you can.

7) ILLUSTRATIONS Draw what you know. If you can’t explain with words, draw it.

Use clear labels.

8) ONE LOOK - WRITE Copying off the board…look at the word, say the letters aloud, repeat to yourself, write the whole word.

Not letter by letter

9) THE DICTIONARY RULE Use one often. Use the definitions in your answers or in your story.

Make sure you know how to find words.

10) LEARN THE TOP 200 Must learn the top 200 dolch words.

Make flashcards, put them up. Learn 5 a week. Practice writing them down, spell them aloud.

Use whiteboard markers to write them on mirror or windows.

Complete Dolch Word List Sorted Alphabetically

a about af ter again

all always

am an and any are

around as ask at ate

away be

because been

before best

better big

black blue both bring brown but buy by

call came can

carry clean cold come could cut did do

does done don't down draw drink eat

eight every every f all f ar f ast find fi rst five fly for

f ound four f rom

full f unny gave get give go

goes going good got

green grow had has have he

help her here him his hold hot how hurt

I if in

into is it its

jump just keep kind know laugh let

light like

little live long look made make many may me

much must my

myself never new no not now of off old on

once one only open or our out over own pick play

please pretty

pull put ran read red ride right round run said saw say see

seven shall she

show sing

sit six

sleep small

so some soon start stop take tell ten

thank that the

their them then there these they think this

those three

to today

together too try two

under up

upon us us

walk want warm was wash we well went were what when where which white who why will wish with work would write yellow yes you your

11) READ OUT ALOUD Read to anyone who will listen.

Read aloud every day. Make reading part of your daily routine.

Read books on your level (independent level)

12) BE READ TO Choose books YOU like and ask someone to read to you every day.

Don’t avoid books because you struggle to read.

Books are meant to be enjoyed.