Reading and Language Arts Development

One of the most empowering things a person can be told is that what they do and not what they were born with will determine their future. Well it’s true. Research shows that those people who maintain optimism, stick to their goals, adapt through trying circumstances, continue to work hard, and persist in the face of difficulty are more likely to achieve in life than if they had performed well in school. These qualities not only differentiate between people who fail and succeed, they further separate out the good from the truly exceptional. These are the very qualities that cause some individuals to rise above disabilities while others do not.

The capacity to form and maintain relationships improves one’s quality of life. Children who suffer from a learning disability struggle with their self-esteem. Self-esteem is the building block of a fulfilling life and the foundation of all healthy relationships. Learning how to initiate, cultivate and maintain relationships is frequently a challenge for the individual suffering from a learning disability. Without this skill, healthy social and emotional development is impossible. Dependable enduring relationships and the belief that we are worthy of them greatly enhances our quality of life.

Friendless adolescents are at dangerously high risk of emotional problems. Both teens and adults request help for social problems more than anything else. We do not mean to downplay academics in any way. The facts are school performance still has the potential to impact students’ career choices, and college opportunities. Our emphasis here is to make sure you understand that social and emotional development are just as crucial to your child’s success and sense of well-being. Even more important to note is your role in this. Before a child ever reaches school, his or her social development and emotional development have already been significantly influenced by his family. There is no greater crucible than ones family. A child will see himself the way his parents see him. He will believe what his parents and extended family members tell him is true about himself whether it feels true or not. His family’s expectations will continue to exact a profound influence on him throughout his life. Within the Southeast Asian culture, children are raised to value hard work and education and taught how to endure in the face of insurmountable hardships. As a result, many Southeast Asian children who came to this country speaking no English are now making the highest grades in their high school and college classes across the United States.

Due to the pervasive nature of learning disabilities, a child’s entire world may be negatively impacted. Parents should understand that what may appear to be bad manners might be a product of their child’s learning disability. Children with learning disabilities often get in trouble for problem behaviors that look like typical childhood misbehaving. For example, the same brain irregularities that cause a kid to have trouble reading or writing may produce other behaviors in the home environment that are less than desirable; difficulty completing chores, seeming unwillingness to retain instruction, chronic inability to be on time etc. Children are punished at school for these behaviors. When they are punished at home as well, despair sets in and children wonder why they are who they are. Their self-esteem plummets and getting help becomes more complicated because hope has been seriously undermined.

We understand the extreme difficulty in helping a child learn how to cope with a learning disability. It is one thing to help a child by implementing improved structure in the classroom, or auditory vs. visual learning options, or maybe even giving them more time to complete their work. However, helping your learning disabled kid learn how to make friends, learn to carry on appropriate conversations, learn proper table manners or learn how to take care of their own clothes when they become teens can prove to be a daunting task.

We encourage parents to secure outside support. Helping your child will be an endeavor that impacts the entire family. If done right, the whole family may benefit as a result and your child can enjoy a bright and fulfilling future.

This summary of development by grade is designed as a guide for parents to gauge their child's progress through the preschool and elementary years. Please note that these are broad guidelines, based on developmentally appropriate practices outlined by the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The Learning Center. All children progress at their own pace, and schools are different across the country. We suggest that you look up your child’s current grade, as well as review the previous and subsequent grades to get a broad overview of what to expect during these years. At each level, we’ve included a few suggestions, several activities for you to do with your child, and a list of books.