What Is Motivation to Read?

A child who has motivation to read wants to learn to read. He has gotten the message that reading is fun and thinks “I want to do that soon!” A child who is motivated to read is eager and willing, and this motivation is so important when it’s time to begin reading instruction! Enthusiasm for books helps get kids over any hurdles that may arise while they are learning to read.

If you’re looking for a series that packs an adventurous punch and appeals to both boys and girls, check out the bestselling series The Mysterious Benedict Society by award-winning author Trenton Lee Stewart.

Practicing phonograms is a lot more fun when you have jungle-themed Bingo boards! Help your child review (and master!) phonograms with the help of monkeys, lions, and other exotic inhabitants. But be careful–it’s a jungle out there!

Even the most x-acting child will be super x-cited to see this x-traordinary ABC Craft! All wordplay aside, there’s lots to love about a lowercase X craft that stars such an ever-popular musical instrument!

“I’m worried my child isn’t making enough progress.”

Most homeschool parents feel this way at one time or another. We regularly hear from parents who express concern about the progress their child has made—or not made—in reading and spelling.

What Is Spelling Dictation?

Dictation is a great tool for teaching spelling because it allows children to use their spelling skills in a “real world” application. Simply put, you say a phrase or sentence containing their spelling words, and students repeat it and write it down.

Because it is such a beneficial tool, spelling dictation is included in every lesson of All About Spelling.

In honor of pirate lovers everywhere, our own pirate crew took to the high seas to hunt down the very best pirate picture books they could lay their hands on. Lots of children’s books had to walk the plank in the process, but we found the best of the best. No shark chum fer ya here, me hearties!

Have you ever been hangry, used a spork, or ridden a moped?

Read on to discover more about portmanteaus and how to introduce these fun words to kids. And be sure to check out the fun printable game at the end of this post!

What Is Listening Comprehension?

Listening comprehension is the precursor to reading comprehension, so it’s an important skill to develop. Listening comprehension isn’t just hearing what is said—it is the ability to understand the words and relate to them in some way.

Quick poll: Which category is your child in?

1. LOVES to read!
2. Could take it or leave it.
3. Really dislikes reading.

Our goal—and I’m guessing it’s your goal too—is to get your child into the first category.

Have you ever noticed that when you know a lot about a subject, it can actually be harder to teach someone else about it?

This is a common problem, and it’s called the curse of knowledge. The curse refers to the idea that the more you know about a subject, the harder it can be to transfer that knowledge to someone who has limited knowledge of the subject.¹

Have you ever wondered why some words have a double consonant at the end (such as sniff), while other words do not (such as dog and bat)?

The answer is easy–and we call it The Floss Rule. It’s a really simple spelling rule that helps kids remember when to use a double consonant at the end of a word.