Heather Cole

Fry's Words, Issue #1 Heather Cole

Learning to read can be hard, especially if your child is struggling with speech or attention challenges as well. Speech can have a huge impact on language acquisition. How can you spell a word you are unable to say? If you cannot spell the word, then how do you sound it out and put it together. Language is difficult, in particular for those of us teaching our children that have special needs. My kids, like many kids, LOVE robots and comics. They also are trying their best to learn to spell and read. They get frustrated and, oh boy, do they get mad! Tapping into an interest of theirs can be a big help. I'll make crosswords with their favorite characters, play games, make comic books, and many other methods to get over the frustration. As an artist, teacher, and mother I am always making and thinking up new ways to help them out. Thus: Fry the robot and his words. It's an easy reader designed for early language development. Remember to take it slow, have patience, relish small victories, set achievable goals, make it a game, use books (no matter how silly!) that interest them, give them choices, and go to the library to let them choose! Try not to set a bar too high, expect high accuracy in speech (unless that is the goal of that particular read through- one thing at a time!), make it a boring chore. Recommendations specific to this book: 1. Read it to them the first time it is introduced. 2. Ask them to read only the green words. 2. Ask them to read only the orange words. 3. Ask them to read only the purple words. 4. Have them try all three!