Vancouver Tutoring Service - Reading Resources

Helping West Vancouver and North Vancouver students experience success with reading!

Looking to find an English or Reading Tutor for Your Child in West or North Vancouver?

I am an experienced English tutor and certified teacher, BA, B.Ed, with the North Vancouver School District. As a teacher, my university studies have focused on the promotion and development of reading and writing skills. I also have a proven track record of successfully tutoring reading and writing skills development in North and West Vancouver from my Vancouver North Shore home.

Reading Problems Frequently do not Correct Themselves Without Assistance

If your child is struggling with reading, I cannot urge you strongly enough to seek out extra help for your child. A child’s reading level is a major indicator of his or her likeliness to do well in school. Significant research studies have shown that children who begin school with well developed reading skills are likely to be closer to the top of their class in all subjects, and students who enter school with under developed reading skills are likely to be ranked closer to the bottom of their class for all subjects.

Many parents assume that their child will just naturally catch up over time. Unfortunately, research also shows that without assistance, this problem is likely to be persistent and continue to adversely affect students throughout their school career. A child near the top of their class is likely to remain near the top of their class throughout successive grades, while a child nearer to the bottom of their class is likely to continue to experience poor performance.

As a teacher and tutor, I can say with 100% certainty that the effects of reading skill are pervasive in all areas of a child’s success at school. Reading is the principle tool and key that helps children access a broad spectrum of knowledge. Reading ability directly affects success with reading, writing, social studies, science and math. A child’s inability to read effectively and with confidence is a tremendous burden that left unaddressed, will act as an anchor holding back their academic progress.

An Experienced Vancouver Tutor and Teacher’s Tips for Reading Success

Good readers aren’t born… they are made. Below is some advice and guidelines for how you can help your child experience greater success and satisfaction with reading:

Get involved with your child’s reading. As a parent, you will have the single greatest impact on your child’s reading. Read to them, read with them, and have them read to you. I have included my recommendations as a teacher and a tutor for activities you can do to read with your child.
Read every day with your child. As little as 20 minutes a day can have a huge impact on their success with reading.
Help your child select books that are just right for them. Books need to be at the right level for your child to experience success. Not so difficult that they bog your child down, and not so easy as to be boring.
Books should be interesting. Few things give a struggling reader more fuel to continue reading than a book that he or she finds really interesting. Think about what your child is interested in, and help them find suitable choices on the subjects and themes that catch their interest. As a teacher I find it is worth mentioning that boys and girls have different reading interests, and it is important to consider this when helping your child to select the right books. A great resource is your local librarian at the children’s section of your public library. These people are wonderful and have a wealth of information and insight for helping you pick out a selection of ‘just right’ books for your child.
Select both fiction and non fiction books. Reading and understanding non fiction books is arguably a separate skill. Children that display high comprehension with non fiction selections will usually display hi comprehension with fiction selections as well. However, reading and comprehending fiction alone is not a guarantee that your child will be able to easily read and comprehend non fiction books. Having your child read a mix of fiction and non fiction can be a wise idea.
It doesn’t have to be Dickens or Tolstoy. Popular titles and series are usually just fine. Graphic novels (think comics but with more text) are also a popular choice and can be idea for engaging a struggling reader.

My Suggestions as a Tutor and Teacher’s for Struggling Readers

Start by following the tips above and becoming actively involved in reading with your child. Be sure to talk with your child’s teacher. Your child’s school may have tremendous programs and resources for building the confidence and abilities of struggling readers. Many schools even have before and after school volunteer reading programs that are worth taking advantage of. Consider 1 on 1 professional tutoring help for your child. A skilled tutor can identify and correct problems that your child may be having with issues like word decoding, reading fluency and reading comprehension.

You may also wish to check out some of the following links to useful articles and resources for reading and reading instruction:

How Children Learn to Read - An article that introduces some of the key elements of reading instruction, and identifies some early warning signs of learning disabilities.
The Reading Teacher - A respected journal dedicated to reading instruction.
10 Myths About How Children Learn to Read - An article that examines many pervasive myths still present in many approaches to reading instruction.
Kidsbooks - The website for a great chain of bookstores specializing exclusively in Quality children's books. Knowledgable staff can help you find great selections to motivate any young reader.

If you believe your child is struggling with reading and is in need of assistance then call me today at 604 922-0900 to arrange a free, no obligation reading skills assessment for your child. This is a comprehensive professional analysis of your child’s academic ability, identifying their current strengths as well as challenges to their learning success. This information will allow us to create a personalized reading plan to help your child experience success with reading.

Best wishes,

Ian Cunliffe

Vancouver Tutoring Service

Serving the West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Downtown Vancouver communities.

604 922-0900

ian@vancouvertutoringservice.com.

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