Learning to read is a rite of passage for 5 year olds. But for some children, it is the hardest thing they will ever do. Children that struggle with reading or spelling due to dyslexia, auditory processing issues or a bright visual learning style can have their sense of self-confidence dashed after just one year of schooling. As parents, our role is to help our children develop both their skills and character. So how do we constructively correct those reading or spelling mistakes without damaging an already fragile confidence?
We recommend something called The Rule of 5. The Rule of 5 states that for every one time you have to correct your child, you have to praise her five times.
This formula comes from a simple idea that I’m sure every parent would acknowledge: even children with good self-worth take corrections as criticisms. For a struggling learner, the very act of trying to read exposes him to lots of public failure – in front of a teacher, peer or just a parent. A word of correction, even gently spoken, can further lead to despair if it’s not balanced with praise for little achievements as well. Getting into a pattern of praising success re-routes that negativity and confidence grows.
We call it The Rule of 5 simply to make this general praise-first model more tangible. You could decide to implement a Rule of 4 or even a Rule of 9! The point is to give yourself a challenge which you can then measure yourself against. As humans, we are better at performing to a specific task than a general one.
The beauty of this model is that gradually, as confidence builds, the child needs both less praise and less correction. Stress or low self-esteem can actually be a causative factor in reading difficulties, or really any academic task. As a part of the brain’s stress response, the higher functioning areas shut down as all energy is diverted to protecting the body through that classic “fight or flight” paradigm. So you can see that lifting the stress barrier is key to getting the brain working optimally in a learning environment.
If The Rule of Five is a new concept, give it a try over the course of one week. I am sure that you will love the outcome!
David Morgan is CEO of Oxford Learning Solutions and publisher of Easyread. Easyread is an online phonics course that helps children who are struggling with dyslexia, auditory processing disorder, or highly visual learning styles through short daily lessons.
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