If you’re reading this, you’ve already done the most important thing, you’ve noticed your child is struggling and started looking for answers. 

We know how overwhelming this is. Most schools don’t have the staff or the resources to provide the right support, and parents often feel unsure where to start. But there are practical, proven ways to help your child gain confidence and build literacy skills at home, and Redwood is here to help you do just that.

Let’s look at what actually works, from simple strategies you can start tonight to full wraparound solutions that rebuild your child’s self-esteem and establish foundational reading skills. 

Create a literacy-rich home

As you’ve noticed, children absorb what’s around them, for better or worse. Sometimes the focus on shielding them from negativity overshadows the effort to intentionally surround them with positive influences, like books! Normalize reading in your household. Children are more likely to do what they see you doing. Read aloud with your children, even if they can read independently. In a literacy-rich home, reading (including audiobooks) is routine and connective, something wholesome the family does together. 

Use Audible or free audio platforms like Libby (public library app) or Learning Ally to let your child listen while following along in print. Explain how this builds vocabulary, comprehension, and enjoyment – all without the frustration of decoding text. 

Redwood Tip: Pair audio with printed text for 15 minutes a day to strengthen the brain’s reading networks; it’s low-stress and high-impact.

Use assistive technology to reduce frustration

Assistive technology (AT) helps level the playing field. It gives students with learning differences the ability to absorb information at their comprehension level, removing the barrier of decoding and relieving the burden of spelling. It’s crucial to emphasize that these tools are not cheating; they’re equalizing. Students are expected to “read to learn”; much of the knowledge students glean from school comes in written form, and AT tools lessen the cognitive demands of reading so students can focus on the content itself. 

There are different types of AT tools that serve unique purposes: 

• Speech-to-text tools, like Google Docs voice typing or Apple Dictation, allow students to get their ideas out without worrying about spelling or typing. A keyboard isn’t an easy place for students who struggle with written symbols. These tools remove that barrier. 
• Text-to-speech tools, including Chrome extensions like Read&Write or NaturalReader, read text aloud while highlighting words. They’re essentially turning any text into an audiobook, opening up a world of information that would have otherwise been much more difficult to access. 
• Spelling and grammar tools like Grammarly and Ginger relieve the pressure of spelling so students can focus on what they’re trying to say.

Redwood Tip: Again, these tools aren’t cheating; they’re scaffolding. Who among us isn’t using spellcheck or voice memos? Assistive technology gives students the support they need to access grade-level text and record their thoughts. As students see what they’re capable of when they get a little help, their motivation and confidence grow. 

Build daily success habits with Frostig’s Six Success Attributes

Frostig’s Six Success Attributes are based on decades of research on which skills help students with learning differences thrive long-term:

• Self-awareness: Understanding strengths and weaknesses, knowing what we need help with.
• Proactivity: Actively working toward the lives we want, making decisions, taking risks, accepting responsibility. 
• Perseverance: Responding to challenges with flexibility and determination, recognizing failure as an opportunity to grow.
• Goal setting: Specific, achievable goals keep us focused and motivated by breaking big tasks into doable chunks.
• Effective support systems: We need supportive people around us; a successful life isn’t lived alone. 
• Emotional coping strategies: The ability to stay emotionally regulated in the midst of stress is among the most crucial skills we can learn. 

Redwood created a free parent webinar with easy ideas for weaving these success attributes into your daily home life.

Join a support system that fits your family - RW @ Home subscription model

If you have a child with dyslexia who’s struggling in school, there’s a path forward that’s individualized for your family. Redwood offers proven solutions starting at $49/month, so no family has to feel stuck. View the Tier Plan Options here.

Know that you don’t have to do this alone

We parents, want to do everything we can for our children. And unless we have unlimited time, resources, and expertise, we all reach a point where we have to address the difference between doing everything we can and doing everything. You don’t need to become your child’s reading teacher – you just need to get your child connected to the right support. 

Our RW @ Home model isn’t designed to make you into a literacy instructor; it invites you to be an active partner in your child’s education. 

If you’re curious, begin by watching this free parent webinar. It will ease anxiety and give you strategies to try right away. 

Next, schedule a quick online reading assessment to see exactly where your child stands. Finally, pick the RW @ Home plan that matches your budget and goals. 

Schedule your Free Consultation Call Today. 

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