Chesterfield Reading Clinic

Do you think cursive should be taught in schools?

Parents: Help Your Child Read Better
By George I. Martin, EdD

Many parents of children who come to our clinic ask how they can best work with us to improve their child’s reading skills—so essential for success in most subjects.

Have your child read aloud, and if she cannot pronounce a word, most likely she does not know its meaning. Do not immediately say for the word for her; go back and have her try to figure it out by breaking it into syllables, using phonetic skills and employing context clues (including pictures).

Take a minute to look up a word on the Internet with your child, or even show him a YouTube clip. I recently did that with the word “silk,” which my student had never heard of before. He will never forget that the fabric is made from worms (yuck!).

Note how your child may substitute a word that has the same meaning as the word in the text. She may even say, for example, “horse” when encountering the word “pony.” This is an example of her understanding the context associated with the word. Ask her what other word would make sense in place of the word in question, focusing on the initial sound.

Finally, note that learners tend to avoid selecting books which are too difficult, nor do they wish to read books that lack challenge. At Chesterfield Reading Clinic we not only work with the texts students bring to us, but we also are careful to find texts that challenge them just enough.

Follow up by having your child write a sentence about what he has just read. After tutoring sessions, we supply parents with a list of words that they should later review with their children at home. With parents, teachers and tutors working together, children can improve their reading skills and increase their grades in school.

Parents!! Read this post. Download 50 free books.

To celebrate 50 years of inspiring children to read, Reading Is Fundamental has partnered with ustyme to give away 50 FREE e-books! Download your e-book library today. http://www.rif.org/50ebooks/

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center http://conta.cc/1AY95ig

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center The term "summer slide" has become a clich?, so I will not refer to summer slide or mention summer slide again.  June, a month when an academic year ends, is also a time for reflection on what students have learned during the past year. 

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center http://conta.cc/1DR8ABq

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center             With the month of May comes spring cleaning, yard sales, planting and trimming.  It is a time not only to prepare your home for summer, but to prepare your child for the onslaught of tests in June.  This last nine weeks of school is particularly important for students of all ages, for it…

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center http://conta.cc/1F4oCsU

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center How do coaches prepare their players for the final quarter of a game?  Some of the advice you may hear include, "Don't slack off, even if we are ahead"; "We may be behind, but there is plenty of time left"; "Keep your focus" and "All I ask is that you do your best!"

Timeline photos

We are so proud of our student that just sent us this note, that I had to share!
Dr. Martin,
This is very late, but I just wanted to express how thankful I am for everything you did for me! With your help I got my SAT score up 410 points (to a 1700) and I got accepted into every school I applied to; James Madison University, Christopher Newport University and Chapman University. It was so kind of you to edit all of my college essays and it truly meant the world to me. I have officially committed to the film school at Chapman University, where I will be spending the next four years in sunny California! I couldn't have done it without you, and I wanted to take the time to tell you how much your dedication to my achievement means to me. I hope all is well and I hope to see you soon!
Love,
Skye

Reading Skills: What to Expect at Different Ages

Great article for parents to read.

Reading Skills: What to Expect at Different Ages From phonics to sight words, kids learn to read by using a number of different skills. Find out about typical reading milestones for kids at different ages.

5 Tips to Increase Your Child's Reading and Early Development - Kid Nurse

Here are some tips for parents of pre-school age children.

5 Tips to Increase Your Child's Reading and Early Development - Kid Nurse Many children in America aren't read to daily and are struggling to enter kindergarten as a result. Here's 5 tips to make sure your kid isn't one of them.

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center http://conta.cc/1GIEDr8

Spring Newsletter for Chesterfield Learning Center

Participate in Chesterfield Learning Center\'s Survey

Participate in Chesterfield Learning Center's Survey http://conta.cc/14vcnKH

Participate in Chesterfield Learning Center\'s Survey

Take our survey: feedback Survey

Take our survey: feedback Survey http://conta.cc/1FvtxZz

Take our survey: feedback Survey

Take our survey: feedback Survey

Take our survey: feedback Survey http://conta.cc/1FvtxZz

Take our survey: feedback Survey

Scheduled Events for Chesterfield Learning Center

Scheduled Events for Chesterfield Learning Center http://conta.cc/1Bmklm0

Scheduled Events for Chesterfield Learning Center

Fluency Matters

Call Chesterfield Reading Clinic and speak to Dr. Martin or Dr. Allen if you have concerns about your child's reading fluency.

Fluency Matters If you've been around classrooms and teachers, you've probably heard the term fluency. Fluency is something worth knowing more about! Read on to find out what it is and how to develop it in your young learner.

How one-to-one tutoring enables students to succeed.

What Research on Tutoring Reveals

- Improved self-esteem and confidence
- Improved students’ attitudes toward school
- Decrease in dropout rates, truancies and trades
- Breaking down of social barriers and creation of new friendships
- Promotion of emotional support and positive role models
- Instruction tailored to specific learning styles and needs
- Instruction free of competition – students progress at their own pace
- Increased praise, feedback and encouragement
- Companionship with a positive adult role model
- Improved social skills

George & Ilene Martin
Directors
Chesterfield Learning Center

My mother always said, "Money doesn't grow on trees!'. How I wished that books would grow on trees instead!

(many thanks to for finding the artist: this autumnal image is by illustrator Tim Foley--his website is here: http://illustratoriumweek.blogspot.com/ , and you can purchase items here: http://www.zazzle.com/timfoleyillo/gifts?cg=196648728469716721 )

What exactly makes a child a reluctant reader?
Children are not born this way. Think back to when your were a child or when you child was a toddler. A two year old child's face lights up when they hear a story being read to them. Parents have to read and re-read their favorite book night after night. So why is that when some children get to elementary school they get this aversion to reading? Here we take a look at the top reasons why some elementary students are reluctant to read. These reasons are from students themselves ages 5-10 years old.

They Have No Interest in the Reading Material
Many students are reluctant to read for the shear fact that the material that they are required to read does not interest them. Imagine going into a book store and someone saying "You must read this book." The trick is to find reading material that will interest students. You may be thinking how I am I supposed to do this when it is my job to teach students specific things that are on the benchmarks? Well, you may have to abandon the textbooks and find alternative reading material that is on the benchmarks else-wear. Go online, search through magazines, or try to find an app that will give students the same information that they need to learn. Find compelling material that will interest students so they don't even realize they are reading.

They Cannot Remember What they Read
Many elementary students have no problem be able to read, they just can't remember what they read after they read it. Struggling with reading comprehension is not uncommon among elementary students. In fact research shows that struggling readers lack of fluency influences how much they can comprehended. children may be able to read but not fluently. If they are having a hard time and stumbling on a few words, it is even harder to remember what they just read. Teachers can try the Repeated Reading Method with these students, as well as reminding them to make a mental picture of what they read in their head. These strategies are proven to help students remember what they read.

They Fear They Cannot Read as Fast as their Classmates
One of the many fears children have is sitting at the desk and being the last one to finish reading, while all of their classmates have already completed their reading assignment. This common fear is among the top on the list for elementary students. The quick fix for this is their is no quick fix. You have to tell students that they need to read at their own pace and when they practice reading everyday it will help them to get faster. There goal is to be able to read and process everything that they are reading. Reading is not a race, it doesn't matter how long it takes. Model how students should be reading and have them echo read back to you using the same expression, tone, and speed as you did when you read. This will help them learn how to read at an appropriate speed.
(wriiten by Janelle Cox)

Scheduled Events for Chesterfield Learning Center

Scheduled Events for Chesterfield Learning Center http://conta.cc/1rnG9uA

Scheduled Events for Chesterfield Learning Center

Chesterfield Reading Clinic

Chesterfield Reading Clinic At Chesterfield Reading Clinic in Midlothian, Virginia, we understand how frustrating reading can be, and we can help make reading fun.

Read Aloud - Join Us

Feed you babies by reading to them nourishes their brains!

Read Aloud - Join Us

So sad and so TRUE!

They don't know what they are missing...

(Source: http://bit.ly/1ryHMob.)

12 Must-Read Books with Talking Animals

What is your favorite animal story book? Does "The Little Mermaid" count?

12 Must-Read Books with Talking Animals Our selection of the best books starring talking animals...

Welcome back to School from Chesterfield Learning Center

Welcome back to School from Chesterfield Learning Center http://conta.cc/1ArqmKD

Welcome back to School from Chesterfield Learning Center

Literacy Day | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Let's all celebrate International Literacy Day by reading a book about different cultures to our kids tonight!

Literacy Day | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization The theme of International Literacy Day 2014 is “Literacy and Sustainable Development”. Literacy is one of the key elements needed to promote sustainable development, as it empowers people so that they can make the right decisions in the areas of economic growth, social development and environmenta…

ArtZ Fall Art Classes

ArtZ Fall Art Classes http://conta.cc/YWqeY0

ArtZ Fall Art Classes Every ArtZ class is filled with age appropriate activities that broaden art knowledge. This multimedia course will cover a wide range of art projects...clay sculpting, watercolor, acrylic and tempera painting, collaging, drawing with oil and chalk pastels, sketching with graphite and colored pencils…

Chesterfield Reading Clinic just joined "The 15 Minute Movement"! Look for details on our FB page coming soon.

Are you a leader in an organization that wants every child to be prepared for life long learning success? Add your organization's voice to the growing chorus of Read Aloud 15 MINUTES Campaign Partners in communities all over our country who are encouraging parents to read aloud to their child every day, starting at birth. Become a campaign partner- it's free- join today!
http://tinyurl.com/nbmr3pr

We love our new locate and you will too!

To all our FB friends and family, we love our new location and think all of you will too. Please come by and visit us. Enjoy the last week of summer before school starts. We are looking forward to a great school year. We are here to help support all of Chesterfield County's students with personalized tutoring to help them catch up, keep up,and excel in all subjects in all academic levels.

ArtZ Fall Art Classes

ArtZ Fall Art Classes http://conta.cc/1qW4weA

ArtZ Fall Art Classes Every ArtZ class is filled with age appropriate activities that broaden art knowledge. This multimedia course will cover a wide range of art projects...clay sculpting, watercolor, acrylic and tempera painting, collaging, drawing with oil and chalk pastels, sketching with graphite and colored pencils…

Chesterfield Reading Clinic Boys's Book Club

Chesterfield Reading Clinic Boys's Book Club http://conta.cc/1n0rkpW

Chesterfield Reading Clinic Boys's Book Club