A Weak Link is Auditory Skills
Researchers have been looking inside children's brains while they do literacy tasks. Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) they discovered that poor readers showed differences in brain activities than those who are literate. Some important brain areas are underactivating.

A common weakness is in auditory discrimination skills. For example, many poor readers do not "hear" differences in letter sounds. To them, the five short vowels sound almost exactly alike.

This causes poor readers to expend more effort for less return.

They have a harder time rapidly and accurately recalling letter sounds. Inefficient letter-sound recall makes it more difficult for these children blend letter sounds to make syllables or words. Finally, their brains are inefficient in recognizing and recalling words.

But their brains work well in other areas, which explains why they can be bright, yet functionally illiterate. The good news is that children's brains are not etched in stone. Auditory skills and letter sound memory can be strengthened. Your son or daughter can become a good reader—with your help.

The Tri-Method Instruction to Literacy Success
In a perfect world, children would learn how to read using a combination of three methods of instruction: auditory training, phonics, and whole language.

It's clear from research that using one of these methods will help only a few children. In fact, using two out of three methods will still leave numerous children illiterate. However, when auditory training, phonics and whole language are merged, literacy rates increase significantly. Hopefully, you will see all three methods reflected in curriculum and used in American classrooms soon.

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