Resources for clearer conversations
Before a consultation
Write down your main questions, examples of what feels difficult, and what your child enjoys or does well. Gather recent school reports, work samples, and any existing evaluations or IEP documents.
When reviewing a report
Look for the questions the evaluation addressed, patterns across findings, and recommendations tied to everyday learning. Note unfamiliar terms and anything you would like explained.
Before a school meeting
Identify your priorities, bring specific examples, and prepare questions about goals, supports, and how progress will be reviewed.
Further reading
For families who would like to explore the research behind how reading develops, these peer-reviewed reviews offer useful background.
Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert
Castles, Rastle & Nation (2018), Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
A broad review of how children learn to read, from early word reading to understanding text.
The Science of Reading Progresses: Communicating Advances Beyond the Simple View of Reading
Duke & Cartwright (2021), Reading Research Quarterly.
Explores the multiple skills and processes that contribute to reading and reading difficulties.