Author Archives: Meg Rayborn Dawson

The Special Reading Group & Phonics Cards for Christmas?

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

In 1955 Rudolf Flesch published his book, “Why Johnny Can’t Read”. He blamed the reading programs of the day. He explained that English is an alphabetic language, and that in order to learn to read efficiently students must learn to … Continue reading →

Posted in education, education reform, homeschooling, Phonics, Reading, Reviews of Alpha-Phonics, schools, teaching, tutoring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inventing the Alphabet – A Sound Symbol System of Writing

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

Why is Phonics called Phonics & What does this Have to do with Reading Instruction? It is not difficult to guess that the word phonics is connected to the Phoenicians, but what is the significance of this and how does … Continue reading →

Posted in Athens school, History of the Alphabet, How the Alphabet Began, Phoenician alphabet, Phonics, Reading, Science of Reading, Sound-it-out | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Savant who Knew his Mother’s Love

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

  Joe and I are different from other people. We just accept things when God puts them before us. It’s like accepting what you have to do in life. Things come at you, and you don’t say, “Am I going … Continue reading →

Posted in education, homeschooling, Leslie Lemke, Phonics, savant syndrome, teaching, The Woman who Willed a Miracle | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Teaching a baby to play Pat-a-Cake: Developing Skills through Play

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man, Bake me a cake, as fast as you can; Pat it, prick it, and mark it with B, Put it in the oven for baby and me. Here is a great video showing a mom interacting with her baby using … Continue reading →

Posted in early childhood, Pat-a-cake with baby, playing with baby, rhymes | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

2022 Edition of ALPHA-PHONICS — NEW INFO ON DYSLEXIA

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

I have been teaching reading for over 40 years, and it is only in my recent history that I have heard about children with dyslexia diagnoses. And I hear of them at an alarming rate! I responded by taking on … Continue reading →

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Illuminating the Brain and Watching it Read

Posted on August 9, 2022 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

Up to the year 1870 there was no physiology of the [brain] hemispheres. They seemed to be out of reach of the physiologist. In that year the common physiological methods of stimulation and extirpation were first applied to them. Ivan … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain science and reading, dyslexia, education, fMRI and reading, homeschooling, Ivan Pavlov, Pavlov's Dog, Phonics, Reading, Stanislaus Dehaene, teaching, tutoring | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bringing up girls: Biology and behavior

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

Gender differences, pt. 2 (girls) DR MICHAEL NAGEL   Whether you have a boy or a girl you may have wondered what science can tell you about the role of the brain in shaping your child’s behaviour. In this two-part … Continue reading →

Posted in education, father daughter relationships, homeschooling, Phonics, raising girls, Reading, teaching, teaching girls, tutoring | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why boys wrestle, play fight and fidget

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

Gender differences, pt. 1 (boys) DR MICHAEL NAGEL Whether you have a boy or a girl you may have wondered what science can tell you about the role of the brain in shaping your child’s behaviour. In this two-part series … Continue reading →

Posted in activities for boys, boys are fidgety, boys are made differently from girls, child development boys vs girls, education, fathers and sons, homeschooling, How boys learn, Let boys be boys, male differences, male's amygdala larger than female's, Phonics, playful aggression, Reading, rough and tumble, schools, teaching, teaching boys vs girls, testosterone in boys development, the male brain, tutoring | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: How to Tutor Reading, Writing & Arithmetic (by Samuel Blumenfeld)

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

“It is not necessary to have had formal teaching experience to become a tutor. If you have enjoyed reading to children and answering their questions, then you should enjoy tutoring. With the proper instructional materials, anyone who enjoys children can … Continue reading →

Posted in education, homeschooling, Phonics, Reading, teaching, tutoring | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Phonics Saves a Struggling Reader — She’s now a Global Change Agent

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Meg Rayborn Dawson

“Unfortunately, I not only know about the reading problem in our schools, but I am well aware of how it feels to be labeled a reading failure. Feeling is a lot more acute than just knowing.” Mary didn’t start out … Continue reading →

Posted in Dyslexic No More, education, homeschooling, Intensive Phonics, Jane & Sally, Mary Burkhardt, Phonics, Reading, teaching, teaching phonics, tutoring | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment