Building better readers, creating stronger students

THE WOODLANDS, Texas –– Parents can help children get off to a good start when they return to the classroom by helping them become better readers.

Children must have a strong foundation in reading to succeed in school, according to Kim Bellini, owner and director of The Woodlands LearningRx.

“Parents often wonder what they can do at home to reinforce what teachers are doing in the classroom,” Bellini said. “The best recommendation is reading at home with their children – and the best time to start is now.”

Numerous national studies have shown that reading is one of the most important skills that young people can acquire throughout their lives, Bellini said. Creating a solid foundation for reading must begin early and should rely on developing certain cognitive skills, including sound awareness.

“If a child has difficulty processing certain sounds, he or she will have trouble reading,” she said. “And when children get frustrated with reading, it can really discourage learning in general.”

If a student is struggling with reading, parents should not assume that the problem will simply be outgrown, Bellini said.

“Parents should remain alert when working with their kids,” she said. “Reading is an extremely complex cognitive process. It involves decoding words, and at the same time, constructing meaning from decoded words.”

Bellini said that because reading is such a complex skill, it is a process that may not come naturally to all children.

“The good news is that reading difficulties can be identified fairly early on,” Bellini said. “The sooner they are identified, the sooner they can be corrected.”

If students are having difficulty with certain subjects, Bellini advises not to wait for them to get left behind. Parents can consider bringing them to The Woodlands LearningRx. At the brain-training center, staff can test, train and provide techniques to help children overcome those challenges before the problem worsens.

Located at 4840 West Panther Creek, The Woodlands LearningRx offers training programs for students of all ages who want to enhance reading and other skills that can help them succeed at a broad range of academic challenges. The center also offers programs for adults and seniors who want to sharpen work-related skills and improve their quality of life.