Special Education Newsletter

• Weekly Message
• The Connection of Language and Literacy
• Special Education Video Resource Highlights
• Building Blocks of Academic Success: Reading
• Parent Workshop Videos on Reading and Writing
• Parent Mentor Appointment Information

Greetings Families!

This week we continue to cover the Building Blocks of Success.

Our focus in this newsletter is Reading and Writing.

It is said that "A child who reads will be an adult who thinks," but what happens when reading does not come easily and there are roadblocks in the way. Children begin to learn language from the day they are born. Understanding how language develops and what skills are needed will help support our students at home as they hit roadblocks and will empower them to overcome obstacles along the way.

Be sure to check out the article below, "The Connection of Language and Literacy" and all the great video highlights we have for you this week.

With the right tools, your student is sure to LEVEL UP!

Language is the system of patterns and symbols we use to communicate.

➢ It may be spoken, written, or signed

➢ Receptive - listening, reading, watching

➢ Expressive - speaking, writing, signing

Literacy is the ability to read and write.

Talking and listening to our children will help them learn to read and write. No matter how your child communicates, listening to their cues and responding to them will increase their confidence to explore different communication methods. Remember that even if they use assistive technology to read and write, they still interact with language and improve their literacy skills.

Parents support language development when they...

➢ Talk to their child and name objects, people, and events in the everyday environment.

➢ Talk to their child during daily routine activities such as mealtime or family time and respond to their questions.

➢ Draw attention to different kinds of print in everyday settings such as traffic signs, store logos, and food packaging.

➢ Introduce new vocabulary words during special activities such as outings to the Zoo, the park, and vacations.

➢ Engage their child with music, rhyming, wordplay, and games.

➢ Read picture and story books that focus on sounds, rhymes, and alliteration.

➢ Read and reread a favorite book.

➢ Focus attention by pointing out new words or pictures while you read.

➢ Provide a variety of materials to encourage creativity such as drawing or painting.

➢ Encourage their child to tell a story and then draw it or write about it.

Does your student struggle with reading? If so, this is the session for you. In this session, we discuss the building blocks of reading success and the skills needed to become a strong reader. We also provide tips and suggestions on how to work on each area at home with your student. Whether your student is still trying to decode words or needs support with deeper comprehension, we have tips to help.

Select a video below to support your student where he/she is.

Select a video below to support your student where he/she is.

Click on Translate to select your preferred language.

**If you speak another language, language assistance services are available free of charge. Please email translation@georgiacyber.org**