Comprehension & Writing Support

In session, that means direct, connected work across a few fronts:

• Dialogic reading: turning story time into a conversation. A research-backed read-aloud technique where the back-and-forth builds vocabulary and spoken-language skills. We use it to strengthen the comprehension side of reading.
• Vocabulary & background-knowledge building. The more a child already knows about a topic, and the stronger their vocabulary, the easier it is to understand and remember what they read. Reading research is consistent on this: background knowledge is one of the strongest drivers of comprehension.
• Transcription: the handwriting-and-spelling side of writing. When forming letters and spelling still takes real effort, there’s less mental room left for actually composing. Effortful transcription eats into the same limited working memory a child needs for planning, organizing, and composing ideas. Direct, explicit work on handwriting and spelling frees kids up to focus on what they’re trying to say.
• SRSD written expression (Self-Regulated Strategy Development). A writing framework that teaches kids a clear, repeatable process for planning, drafting, and revising, with built-in self-monitoring. It’s one of the most heavily studied writing approaches, with strong effects on writing quality overall, and encouraging early evidence for students with learning disabilities specifically.