Developmental Phonological Skills by Age: A Guide for Early Literacy Development
Phonological awareness develops gradually, beginning in the preschool years and continuing through elementary school. Understanding how these developmental phonological skills typically unfold helps parents and educators recognize when children are progressing as expected—and when additional support may be needed. It is important to note that the information below serves as a general developmental guide, not […]
Awesome Online Reading Tools for Students: Boost Skills, Confidence & Engagement
In today’s digital learning environment, high-quality online tools can make reading practice more interactive, personalized, and — dare we say it — fun! Whether your student needs help with decoding, fluency, vocabulary, or comprehension, the right digital resources provide engaging practice to support literacy growth. Below, we highlight seven awesome reading tools for students educators […]
Using Guessing as a Strategy to Read Unknown Words: Why It Hurts More Than It Helps
When students encounter an unfamiliar word while reading, many fall back on a habit that seems helpful in the moment but causes long-term struggles: guessing. At Aligned Academics, we call this habit “The Guessing Monster.” It sneaks in when a student looks at the first letter, glances at the picture, or relies on context clues […]
Writing Resources That Inform My Teaching Practice
Over the years, I’ve explored countless professional resources on writing instruction. While many have offered valuable insights, the books below have had the greatest impact on my teaching practice philosophy and instructional approach. More importantly, they are the resources that have led to the most significant growth in my students’ writing production, confidence, and independence. […]
The Science of Reading: What Parents and Educators Need to Know
The phrase “Science of Reading” has become one of the biggest buzzwords in education — but it isn’t a program, trend, or teaching fad. The Science of Reading is a body of decades-long research from cognitive science, neuroscience, linguistics, psychology, and education. Together, these fields explain how the brain learns to read and which instructional […]
Where to find the Best Struggling Reader Support?
Struggling reader support is one of the most important investments a family can make. When kids begin to fall behind, struggling reader support helps prevent frustration, low confidence, and widening achievement gaps. Many parents wonder where to start: classroom help, after-school programs, or hiring a specialist? Understanding the landscape makes it easier to choose the […]
Orton-Gillingham: A Proven Path to Reading Success
The term Orton-Gillingham (OG) appears everywhere in conversations about literacy — and for good reason. Orton-Gillingham is not a single curriculum or packaged program. Instead, it is a research-based approach to teaching reading, spelling, and writing, originally developed for students with dyslexia but now widely recognized as effective for all learners. At its core, Orton […]
2025 Reflections from the Orton-Gillingham Academy Conference
I’ve been looking forward to attending my third OGA – Orton-Gillingham Academy Conference. Tutoring and teaching life have been so busy lately that I haven’t had much time for professional development. I love teaching, but I love learning from others just as much. Since I want to keep my certificate current, this conference helped me […]
2024 Reflections from the Orton-Gillingham Academy Conference
This year, I decided to attend the OGA – Orton Gillingham Academy Conference live and in person. I won’t do that again. Reason 1: I had to take time off from the school where I work and cancel a few private clients.Reason 2: Between the flight, hotel, transportation, food, and the event itself, it was […]
2023 Reflections from the Orton-Gillingham Academy Conference
This year, I had the opportunity to attend my first Orton-Gillingham Academy Conference since earning my OG certification. In order to keep our certification current and valid, OGA practitioners must submit continuing education units (CEUs)—also known as professional development credits. Currently, attending this conference is the only way to obtain those CEUs. I hope this […]
