A plain-English guide to teaching phonics. Every parent can teach reading—no experts need apply! Too many parents watch their children struggle with early reading skills—and don't know how to help. Phonics programs are too often complicated, overpriced, gimmicky, and filled with obscure educationalese. The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading cuts through the confusion, giving parents a simple, direct, scripted guide to teaching reading—from short vowels through supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. This one book supplies parents with all the tools they need. Over the years of her teaching career, Jessie Wise has seen good reading instruction fall prey to trendy philosophies and political infighting. Now she has teamed with dynamic coauthor Sara Buffington to supply parents with a clear, direct phonics program—a program that gives them the know-how and confidence to take matters into their own hands.

This essential guide profiles 33 schools in New York City for children with special needs, plus listings of medical professionals, camps, after-school programs, evaluation centers, and individuals in the field that were recommended by families of children with special needs. Includes information on referrals and evaluations, eligibility criteria, parents' rights, and more.

An investigation into the interactions between users of educational software is given in this book, providing theoretical frameworks for studying educational software. The existing approach to selection of educational software is examined and shown to be limited.

Furnishes a guide on how to negotiate the college admissions process, offering advice, tools, and procedures that cover everything from the college application timetable to writing an effective application essay.

Dr. Milton Chen--who has worked in program development for Sesame Street and the Electric Company--shows parents how to make use of the educational potential of television, video, and other media--while avoiding their pitfalls. Short, concise chapters spotlight subjects such as TV and violence, role models, and more.