Steps"Resource Links
These links to other related websites are provided as a
reference source for interested parents and educators.
The UURC has identified the following links and commercial products as potentially helpful in helping children address reading difficulties. This list is not exhaustive, but merely a "starting place" for locating research-based products and services.
Please note that the UURC does not guarantee results deriving from use of these products, nor is the UURC responsible in any way for any effects potentially derived from their use. These are not paid endorsements.
Foundational Skills for Beginners
- Read, Write, Spell & Type
- Blachman, B.A., Ball, E.W., Black, R., & Tangel, D.M. (2000). Road to the code: A phonological awareness program for young children. New York: Brookes.
- Hall, S.L. & Moats, L.C. (1999). Straight Talk about Reading: How Parents Can Make a Difference During the Early Years. ISBN # 0-8092-2857-2.
- Torgesen, J. & Mathes, P. (2000). A Basic Guide to Understanding, Assessing, and Teaching Phonological Awareness. Pro-Ed. ISBN-13 # 978-0890798447.
- Waterford UPSTART: Kindergarten Readiness at Home
- Early Impact Learning (includes links to alphabet learning activities/apps)
- UURC Tracing Board app for handwriting practice
- UURC Alphabet Sort for letter recognition & letter-sound correspondences.
- How to video: https://mediaspace.utah.edu/media/t/1_4rvdjy81
- Example video: https://mediaspace.utah.edu/media/t/1_a93e386j
- Instruction guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/150CqNrjLR8fMdg2e_sx3EZvn2u-jcdDL/view
Word Recognition, Phonics, and Spelling
- UURC Home Word Charts (Grades 1-8)
- High Frequency Word Lists & Practice Options
- Reading Horizons Discovery
- Blachman, B.A. & Tangel, D. (2008). Road to Reading: A Program for Preventing and Remediating Reading Difficulties ISBN-13 # 978-1557669049.
. - Spellography
- Henry, M. (2010). WORDS: Integrated Decoding and Spelling Instruction Based on Word Origin & Word Structure. Pro-Ed.
- Henry, M. (2010). Unlocking Literacy: Effective Decoding and Spelling Instruction. Brookes Publishing Co.
- Word Attack (for grades 4-12)
- On-line game for learning vowels and consonants
- Vachon, V., Gleason, M.M., & Archer, A.L. (2006). Rewards (Reading Excellence Word Attack and Rate Development Strategies for grades 4-12 intervention). Sopris West.
Fluency and Text
- Suggestions for "listening to a child read aloud."
- Reading For all Learners (decodable text)
- Reading A to Z (leveled text)
- MobyMax (leveled text)
- Repeated Reading Graphs
- Home Word Charts
- Reading Success Lab
- Great Leaps
- Lexia Learning
- Renaissance Learning Accelerated Reader - quizzes for leveled books
Comprehension and Vocabulary
- Comprehension bookmark/questions
- Beck, I.L. & McKeown, M.G. (2006). Improving Comprehension with Questioning the Author: A Fresh and Expanded View of a Powerful Approach. New York: Scholastic. ISBN-13 # 9780439817301.
- Reading Rockets: Comprehension Instruction for Parents
- Beck, I.L., McKeown, M.G., & Kucan, L. (2002). Bringing Words to Life. New York: Guilford.
- Ebbers, S.M. (2004). Vocabulary Through Morphemes (for intermediate grades). Sopris West.
- Reading Rockets: Vocabulary Instruction for Parents
- Vocabulogic - a blog focusing on vocabulary instruction
- WordSift - a tool for finding key words in a passage
- The Visual Thesaurus - a tool that illustrates connections among word meanings
- Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com
- Collins COBUILD Student Dictionaries
Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties & Other Comorbid Conditions
- A list of institutions that diagnose dyslexia, autism, and other reading difficulties. --- Parent Resource List [11/1/24]
- Educational Assessment and Student Support Clinic (learning, attention, autism spectrum, head trauma, psychological/behavioral issues) - Full psychoeducational exam, some neuropsych exams, train parents on interventions, behavioral problems and techniques.
- Child Development Program (behavior, emotional challenges, autism, cognitive concerns) - University Developmental Assessment Clinic for evaluation of children with or at risk for developmental delays.
- Speech-Language Hearing Clinic (language, speech, & hearing)
Severe Reading Difficulties / Dyslexia
- Dylexia Handbook - Utah State Board of Education
- Reading Rockets: Parents of a Struggling Reader
- Moats, L.C. & Dakin, K.E. (2008). Basic Facts About Dyslexia. Baltimore, MD: The International Dyslexia Association. ISBN 0-89214-064-X.
- Shaywitz, S. (2000). Overcoming Dyslexia. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-375-40012-5.
- Hall, S.L. & Moats, L.C. (1999). Straight Talk about Reading: How Parents Can Make a Difference During the Early Years. ISBN # 0-8092-2857-2.
- Handler, S.M., Fierson, W.M, et al. (2011). Joint Technical Report: Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and Vision. Pediatrics, 127 (3), e818-e856.
- Dyslecksia: The Movie (documentary).
- Embracing Dyslexia (documentary).
- Children of the Code (documentary).
- NPR: All Things Considered: Millions Have Dyslexia, Few Understand It (what it's like to have dyslexia) .
- NPR: All Things Considered: Raising A Child With Dyslexia: 3 Things Parents Can Do (what parents can do).
- NPR: All Things Considered: Dyslexia: The Learning Disability That Must Not Be Named (avoidance of term).
- NPR: Weekend Edition Saturday: 'B' And 'D' Learning Process Debunks Dyslexia Jumbled-Letters Myth (it's not b-d reversals).
- NPR: Morning Edition: How Science Is Rewiring The Dyslexic Brain (dyslexia in school).
- APM Reports: Hard To Read: How American schools fail kids with dyslexia (the dyslexic brain).
- International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
- All Things Dyslexia
- Bright Solutions (curriculum, videos, info, & more)
- MindPlay (curriculum, training, & more)
- Dyslexia Training Institute (training, info, & more)
- Neuhaus Education Center (curriculum, training, info & more)
- Lindamood-Bell Learning Centers (curriculum, training, info & more)
- Slingerland Institute for Literacy (curriculum, training, info & more)
- Winsor Learning - Sonday System 1 (beginning reading curriculum)
- Winsor Learning - Sonday System 2 (intermediate reading curriculum)
- Decoding Dyslexia - UT (grassroots movement driven by people concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia)
- EdMedResources & Support for College Students with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Dyscalculia
Scientific Evidence Does Not Support Irlen Syndrome or Other Vision Diagnosis/Treatment As Cause of Reading Difficulties
Assistive Technology Resources for Students
- Having a child evaluated for Assistive Technology.
- Utah State Library for the Blind & Disabled (source of books on tape.)
- Head Strong (books, smartpens, text-to-speech, speech-to-text)
- Utah Augmentative Alternative Communication and Technology Teams (assistive technology evaluations & resources.)
- texthelp.com (assistive learning software - including auditory text reading)
- Learning Ally (Recording for the Blind &Dyslexic)
- Recorded Books, LLC. (Thousands of books on tape, CD, and DVD)
- Bookshare.org
- http://main.saltlake.ut.brainfuse.com/authenticate.asp' target='_resources - homework help, skills-building, e-learning tools, 24-hour writing lab, spanish-speaking support (need a library card)
- https://services.slcpl.org/kids-4693 - homework help, books galore including read-alongs and read alouds, language development (need a library card)
- National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
- College Resources for Students with Disabilities guidebook
Dysgraphia (i.e., Composition & Handwriting Difficulties)
- Berninger, V.W., & Wolf, B.J. (2009). Helping Students with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Make Connections. Brookes Publishing. ISBN 1598570218.
- Griffin, K., & Williamson, D. (2009). Tactile-Kinesthetic Writing Program. Pro-Ed. (cursive handwriting program)
- UURC Tracing Board for handwriting practice
- Pro-Ed Right-Line Paper (paper with raised lines for handwriting guidance)
- Livescribe Smartpen
- Ginger Software (spellcheck software that gives feedback to reduce future errors)
Special Ed, IEPs, & 504s
- Huefner, D. (2006). Getting Comfortable with Special Education Law. ISBN: 1929024916
- Smith, T. (2007). Section 504 and Public Schools: A Practical Guide. Pro-Ed. ISBN: 1-4164-0253-5
- Educational Equity - Section 504 Parent Guide
- Nursing Career Guide - guide to nursing careers for individuals with disabilities
- Utah State Office of Education: Special Education Services
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Utah Parent Center help parents help their children, youth and young adults with all disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community. They provide accurate information, empathetic peer support, valuable training and effective advocacy based on the concept of parents helping parents.
General Information on Reading
- The National Reading Panel Report & other National Institude of Child Health and Human Development Reports
- What Your nth Grader Needs To Know series (E.D. Hirsch, Jr.)
Resources for Children's Literature
- Tell me more!: Information about children's authors & illustrators and their books
- Children's Literature Web Guide
- The Newbery Medal
- On-line books page
YouTube Videos of Children Reading
Resources for Math Difficulties
- Danica McKellar Books: Math for Teen (& Pre-Teen) Girls
- Larry Gonick's The Cartoon Guide to Algebra
- The first edition has a few typos. Please use this errata sheet.
- Math-U-See (Be aware the optional economics component includes religous material)
