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![Why is Reading Long Sentences Hard for My Child?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5dc07bb74c13d95c1a170f86/1641605322704-KZICITUP4FT1V8HPOPFE/unsplash-image-r2WhdAwJPxM.jpg)
Why is Reading Long Sentences Hard for My Child?
Does your child struggle with reading long sentences? They might have had a pretty easy time with reading short sentences like “Pat hit the ball” but now they seem lost and frustrated. They seem to be reading the same sentence over and over but they just don’t get it.
![Why Does My Child Struggle with Reading?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5dc07bb74c13d95c1a170f86/e783b7d9-ae31-4075-95d0-6052e148db03/Mindful+Speech+-+speech+therapy+for+children+and+teenagers+in+Chicago%2C+Illinois+-+image+of+a+lamp+turning+on+to+represent+reading+comprehension+metaphor.png)
Why Does My Child Struggle with Reading?
Reading is complex.
Let’s demystify some of that complexity.
To better understand why your child (or you!!) might be struggling with reading, let’s take a look at a few of the areas that are necessary for reading. To connect to the visual I made above, if any of the parts (outlet, plug, cord, or lamp) aren’t working, the light may flicker, it could be dim, or won’t turn on at all.
Let’s go over those parts.
![Dear Speech Therapist: What is “Normal” for a First-Grader?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5dc07bb74c13d95c1a170f86/1632850722209-VNKC3SC52CB0D9V54S1O/unsplash-image-p_KJvKVsH14.jpg)
Dear Speech Therapist: What is “Normal” for a First-Grader?
When we think about what is “normal” for a first-grader in terms of their speech and language skills, a few questions might resonate with parents.
Is my child “typical?”
Is my first-grader on track?
Does my child in first grade need speech therapy?
Is my first-grade student falling behind?
Is my kid okay?
When I’m asked these questions as a speech-language pathologist, I think about what I would expect a child to be able to do in first grade. I think about the skills a six-year-old usually has in speech, language, reading, writing, and executive functioning as a basis for beginning my evaluation.
In this blog post, I’m going to break down what I expect a first-grade student to be able to do in each of the above areas. Feel free to jot down notes about what you notice your child is doing well with and what they might be struggling with. This will help your speech therapist know where to start with evaluating so you can get the best care for your child.
![How to Take Notes in Class: High-school and College](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5dc07bb74c13d95c1a170f86/1629748154036-5OFF0CPL3RK7SU6MZARZ/unsplash-image-Hb6uWq0i4MI.jpg)
How to Take Notes in Class: High-school and College
Many high-school and even college students have never learned how to take notes, but thankfully speech-language therapy can help. I often work with high-schoolers and college students who struggle with not only reading and writing but also understanding lectures and staying focused. Learning how to take notes can help them practice summarizing information, organizing information, and developing self-awareness of whether they understand and are focused.
Students have to find the note-taking system that works best for them, something we work on in speech therapy, but I’ll give you a little sneak peek into some popular note-taking methods to help you begin to imagine what might help your teen.
Hi, I’m Hollis, the owner of Mindful Speech.
I’m a speech-language pathologist licensed in Illinois and Colorado.
I specialize in providing speech therapy to help children, teens, and young adults to improve language, reading, writing, and executive functioning skills.
Learn more about me on my About Hollis page.