SLD Read

08/21/2026

A shout out to Willard Library in Battle Creek.

If you have not been in lately, go look at what they have built. There is now a dedicated decodable books section in the Easy Readers area, clearly marked, sitting right where a parent will actually find it.

That matters more than it might sound. Decodable books let a child practice the exact sounds and patterns they have been taught, so they are reading rather than guessing from pictures. For a kid who is struggling, the difference between the right book and the wrong one is the difference between practice and frustration. Most parents have never been told that, and there is no reason they would know to ask.

Willard did not wait to be asked. They made the choice, made it visible, and made it free.

Their Literacy and STEM Kits are just as good. Backpacks a family can check out and take home, ready to go.

Thank you to the Willard Library team for making this kind of thing possible for Battle Creek families. We are grateful for the partnership.

08/20/2026

Mark your calendars! SLD Read is hosting a paid Tutor Training event in Grand Rapids! If you are looking to make a difference in your community and tutor students 1:1, this may be the perfect opportunity for you!

📆When: September 14th - 18th
⏰Time: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
📍Where: Grand Rapids office

Want more information or to sign up?

📧 Contact Christine Gavin at [email protected]
📞 Call 616.361.1182
🌐 Apply today at SLDRead.org

08/19/2026

Two weeks ago at Bronson's Power Up: Back to School & Better Health Fair, our table had letters kids could pick up and move around. School will be back in session soon, which makes this a good moment to say why that mattered.

Moving letters physically, saying the sound out loud while doing it, is part of how structured literacy works. A child who builds a word with their hands is doing something different from a child who copies it off a board. For kids who find reading hard, that difference matters.

If your child is a few weeks into the year and reading is already a fight, that is worth paying attention to now rather than at conferences in November. The families I talked to at the Mawby Center that afternoon mostly had the same question: is this normal, or is something else going on? That is a fair question and it deserves a real answer.

Thank you to Bronson for putting the event on and for making it free, so no family had to weigh whether they could afford to come.

If you want to talk through what you are seeing at home, call me. 269.345.2661.

08/14/2026

Check this out!

If you know someone who has concerns about their child's progress at school but doesn't yet have an IEP, please share this post with them.

Evaluation is the first step in the special education process. Register today to join us online on September 16 at noon to discuss special education evaluation and eligibility. We'll cover when and why a parent might seek an evaluation for their child, and how the process works.

SPECIAL EDUCATION EVALUATION AND ELIGIBILITY
This free, online workshop will explain when and why a parent might seek an evaluation.
• how to request a comprehensive evaluation
• understand the purpose of the evaluation process
• explain eligibility category criteria
• review of timelines

We’ll cover important terms parents need to know, like REED, Notice, and IEE, as well as parent’s rights during the evaluation process.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/2j5mt836c
See our full calendar of events at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/

08/13/2026

Is your Calhoun County/Battle Creek 1st or 2nd grade struggling to keep up with their peers in reading and spelling? Do you suspect your student might be a person with dyslexia? Call us - we have a few openings for tutoring starting this fall! 269-345-2661.

08/05/2026

This week's Word of the Week is TRAIN! 🚂
Did you know the vowel team "ai" usually makes the long A sound in the middle of a word?

Examples include:
Rain 🌧
Paint 🎨
Chain ⛓
Snail 🐌

Recognizing vowel teams helps students decode unfamiliar words with greater confidence.
🗨 Challenge: Can your child think of another word that uses "ai"? Share in the comments!

08/04/2026

Words matter.

At SLD Read, we believe creating inclusive communities starts with the language we use every day. That's why we're sharing this important message from Disability Network Southwest Michigan about the impact of using the word "crazy."

Even when used casually, this word can unintentionally:
• Hurt or isolate people with lived experiences of mental health disabilities.
• Reinforce stigma, making it harder for people to seek support.
• Shape harmful misconceptions about mental health.
• Create barriers to inclusion by making people feel judged or unwelcome.

The words we choose have the power to build understanding, respect, and belonging. By being mindful of our language, we can help create communities where everyone feels seen, valued, and included.

Thank you to Disability Network Southwest Michigan for sharing this important reminder and helping raise awareness.

08/03/2026

📖 Michigan students are making progress—but the work isn't finished.

According to WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University, reading scores have improved slightly from last year. However, only 38.9% of Michigan third-grade students scored in the Proficient or Advanced category on the M-STEP English Language Arts assessment.

Behind every statistic is a child who deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader.

At SLD Read, our tutors provide individualized, evidence-based instruction that helps students strengthen their reading, writing, and spelling skills. The growing need for tutors means we need caring individuals who are ready to make a lasting difference in a child's life.

💙 Join our mission and help change a student's future.

Apply today at sldread.org

Source: WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University.

08/02/2026

📚 Upcoming Paid Tutor Training – Battle Creek!

Do you have a passion for helping students succeed? Join the SLD Read team and make a lasting difference in the lives of children learning to read, write, and spell.

Our paid Phonic Fundamentals Training will take place August 10–14, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at our Battle Creek office. No teaching degree is required—just a desire to help students build confidence through evidence-based, structured, multisensory literacy instruction.

Michigan's literacy crisis continues to affect thousands of students, but together we can help change that. One-on-one tutoring gives students the support they need to become confident readers, writers, and spellers.

Interested in becoming a tutor?

📧 Contact Christine Gavin at [email protected]
📞 Call (616) 361-1182
🌐 Apply today at SLDRead.org

Help us empower the next generation—one student at a time. 💙📖

08/01/2026

New pencils, new possibilities! SLD Read is cheering on every learner as they head back to school—one word at a time.