The Latest Stats and Resources for ADHD and Dyslexia

It is October and the autumn air is a bit chilly here in the Midwest. October is also ADHD Awareness Month and Dyslexia Awareness Month. Because of this, we thought it would be helpful to our readers to provide some important and recently published statistics (from 2016) regarding these two learning disabilities. At the same time, we thought it even more important to offer a collection at the same time of updated resources to assist parents and teachers who help children with these specific challenges.

You may be surprised to learn that ADHD and dyslexia are distinct conditions that frequently overlap, thereby causing some confusion about the nature of these two conditions. ADHD is one of the most common developmental problems, affecting 9-10% of the school-age population in the U.S. It is characterized by inattention, distractability, hyperactivity (sometimes) and impulsivity.

At the same time, it is estimated that 30% of those with dyslexia have co-existing ADHD. Some experts in the fields of ADHD and dyslexia claim that this the number is closer to 40%. Co-existing means the two conditions, ADHD and dyslexia, can occur together, but they do not cause each other. Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability characterized by difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition, spelling and decoding of words. Persons with dyslexia have problems discriminating sounds within a word or phonemes, a key factor in their reading and spelling difficulties. (See IDA fact sheets Definition of Dyslexia and Dyslexia Basics in Dyslexia Resources to Help below here.)

Current Dyslexia Statistics & Information

1. Current research suggests that about 17% of the population has dyslexia (nearly 1 in 5 children).
2. An equal number of girls and boys are dyslexic. It is thought that boys are more likely to act out as a result of having a reading difficulty and are therefore more likely to be identified early. Girls, on the other hand, are more likely to try to "hide" their difficulty, becoming quiet and reserved.
3. Because the source of dyslexia lies in the brain, children do not outgrow dyslexia. With the proper intervention, children with dyslexia can learn to read well. As adults, people with dyslexia can be successful in many different careers, although many adults with dyslexia continue to have difficulty with spelling and tend to read relatively slowly.
4. The first description of dyslexia appeared in 1896 by Dr. W. Pringle Morgan in Sussex, England
5. The word dyslexia is derived from the Greek word dys (meaning poor or inadequate) plus lexis (words or language), implying only an inadequacy in language tasks.

Current ADHD Data & Statistics (2016)

1. Approximately 9.4% of children 2-17 years of age (6.1 million) had ever been diagnosed with ADHD, according to parent report in 2016.
-Ages 2-5: Approximately 388,000 children
-Ages 6-11: Approximately 2.4 million children
-Ages 12-17: Approximately 3.3 million children

2. Parent report on ADHD diagnosis in previous years:

-The percent of children 4-17 years of age ever diagnosed with ADHD had previously increased, from 7.8% in 2003 to 9.5% in 2007 and to 11.0% in 2011-12.
-The number of young children (ages 2-5) who had ADHD at the time of the survey increased by more than 50% from the 2007-2008 survey to the 2011-12 survey.

3. Parent report in 2016, among U.S. children ages 2-17 years:

-Nearly 2 of 3 children with current ADHD had at least one other mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder. [Read article]
-About 1 out of 2 children with ADHD had a behavior or conduct problem.
-About 1 out of 3 children with ADHD had anxiety.
-Other conditions affecting children with ADHD: depression, autism spectrum disorder, and Tourette Syndrome.

Dyslexia Resources to Help

Definition of Dyslexia-from International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
https://dyslexiaida.org/definition-of-dyslexia/

FREE Dyslexia Fact Sheet-from Understood.org
What is dyslexia? This FREE one-page fact sheet (view full size) provides essential information for beginners. You can read the fact sheet online, or print it out and give it to friends, family and teachers.

Dyslexia Basics-from International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-basics/

Online Dyslexia Test-from Dyslexia Advantage (Dr. Fernette Eide)
https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/dyslexia-test/

SELF-ADVOCACY: Common Accommodations and Modifications-from Dyslexia Advantage (Dr. Fernette Eide)
One of the first steps in advocacy is knowing which accommodations and/or modifications are necessary. Here’s a nice list from the state of CT.
https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/self-advocacy-common-accommodations-and-modifications/

Accommodations for Students with Dyslexia-from International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
https://dyslexiaida.org/accommodations-for-students-with-dyslexia/

Dyslexia Awareness, Tools, Resources & Support
https://www.focusandread.com/blog/post/3699032

ADHD Resources to Help

ADHD Symptom Tests
Separate tests provided here for children and adults. Is it ADHD? Or learning disabilities, OCD, or something else? Take these self-tests to learn whether you or your child have symptoms that resemble attention deficit or one of the related conditions commonly diagnosed alongside ADHD. Print the results and take them to a medical professional for an appropriate diagnosis.
https://www.additudemag.com/category/understand-conditions/symptom-tests/

FREE ADHD Downloads-from ADDitude Magazine
A sizable collection of FREE printables on a variety of ADHD topics is available here. The resources provided for children and adults include information on treatment options for ADHD, neurofeedback, ADHD's impact on personal relationships and much MORE!
https://www.additudemag.com/download/

Strategies & Accommodations for Challenged Readers
FREE downloadable list of strategies to help readers of all ages to FOCUS and READ with more success.
https://www.focusandread.com/learning-strategies

FREE ADHD Podcasts-from ADDitude Magazine
Listen to ADDitude’s FREE podcast series about all things ADHD — recognizing symptoms, researching treatment, raising children, living better with attention deficit, and much more — with leading experts in ADD / ADHD. Click here for the full library of ADDitude podcast episodes.
https://www.additudemag.com/category/adhd-podcast/

Other Resources

VIDEO: Michelle Carter Wins Olympic Gold With Dyslexia and ADHD-from Understood.org
Michelle Carter grew up with BOTH dyslexia and ADHD. Reading and spelling were a challenge for her (they still are), and she struggled to pay attention in school. Then she found her passion and talent: track and field. It motivated her to do well enough in school to be able to continue competing. And it took her all the way to Rio in 2016, where she won an Olympic gold medal in the shot put. View this inspiring video to learn how she did it!
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/personal-stories/famous-people/video-michelle-carter-wins-olympic-gold-with-dyslexia-and-adhd

Tools & Apps for ADHD, Dyslexia & Other Challenges
https://www.focusandread.com/products

Sources for This Article

Data & Statistics for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and Dyslexia-from International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
https://dyslexiaida.org/attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder-adhd-and-dyslexia/

The Facts About Dyslexia-from PBS.org
http://www.pbs.org/parents/readinglanguage/articles/dyslexia/the_facts.html

50 Interesting Facts About Dyslexia-from Reading Horizons
https://athome.readinghorizons.com/blog/50-interesting-facts-about-dyslexia

For more information on customizable reading tools for ADHD and/or dyslexia, please visit: FocusandRead.com ---Tools for challenged readers of all ages!

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC and Pixabay

BEST Research-Based Interventions for Dyslexia, ADHD and Other LD

As educators and parents, it is prudent to consider research-based or evidence-based resources when assisting students in any way. This is even more critical when helping challenged readers and learners.

In this article, we wanted to provide the most up-to-date research-based resources to help the many adults who serve populations with dyslexia, ADHD and other LD. We have listed them here with direct links for your convenience. Please know that every child is unique, exhibiting individual behaviors and specific needs. Discovering the BEST resources, techniques and interventions for an individual child or student of any age may take time, patience and extended efforts in order to increase the possibility of good outcomes.

Special Note: It is suggested that teachers, tutors, programs, and schools provide specific, evidence-based techniques. We also recommend that these techniques be discussed at follow-up meetings after student evaluations and/or assessments. This does not mean or guarantee that these techniques will result in a positive outcome in all cases. There are too many variables involved to provide any kind of guarantee of success. We also do not receive any financial or other exchange benefit from making specific recommendations. We sincerely want to provide our professional opinion about what may be an effective intervention for your child. This is not a complete list. There are many other effective techniques which we are continually discovering.

BEST Research-Based Interventions for Dyslexia, ADHD and Other LD

Interventions for Challenged Readers

1. Orton-Gillingham Techniques for Dyslexia
Of all the reading programs specifically designed to help struggling readers by explicitly teaching the connections between letters and sounds, Orton–Gillingham was the first. Today—decades later—many reading programs include Orton–Gillingham ideas based on a multi-sensory approach to reading and learning.
https://www.orton-gillingham.com/

2. Tools for Unfocused, Overwhelmed and Other Readers w/ LD

a. Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759)
Low-tech tools for reading physical books, documents and other printed media
http://www.focusandread.com/products

b. Reading Focus Cards App (Patent 8,360,779)
Digital tool for Macs and Windows PCs that allows readers to more easily and more comfortably remain focused on digital media--both online and offline (for web pages, digital documents and more)
For Macs: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
For Windows PCs: https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards

Instruction Techniques for Dyscalculia (Math Learning Disabilities)

1. The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project
UCSMP has created a curriculum for students from pre-kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. UCSMP materials, including Everyday Mathematics for Grades preK-6 and seven UCSMP textbooks for use in Grades 6-12 mathematics (Pre-Transition Mathematics; Transition Mathematics; Algebra; Geometry; Advanced Algebra; Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry; and Precalculus and Discrete Mathematics), are being used currently by an estimated 4.5 million students in elementary and secondary schools in every state and virtually every major urban area. (Usiskin) We find that these techniques are appropriate for children with strong visual memory, language, and fluid reasoning ability. They are not as effective with children who are concrete learners and who need foundational memorization of facts and consistent scope and sequence of skills.
http://ucsmp.uchicago.edu/about/overview/

2. Connected Mathematics
CMP is a problem-centered curriculum promoting an inquiry-based teaching-learning classroom environment. Mathematical ideas are identified and embedded in a sequenced set of tasks and explored in depth to allow students to develop rich mathematical understandings and meaningful skills.
https://connectedmath.msu.edu/

3. Saxon Math (for Elementary Students w/ Math LD)
Saxon takes an incremental approach to math, introducing a new skill or principle each day, then reviewing these concepts and skills day after day for weeks. This approach helps build students’ confidence in their ability to “do” math successfully. Students who have used this program receive consistently high scores on standardized math tests. We find this technique to be successful with concrete, sequential learners who need memorization, review, and scope and sequence learning.
http://www.hmhco.com/shop/education-curriculum/math/saxon-math

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) (for Middle to Sec. Students w/ Math LD)

1. I Can Learn
A full-curriculum mathematics software solution that is a self-paced, mastery-based technology fully aligned to Common Core State Standards for math grades 5th through algebra and allows for effective differentiated instruction in a positive learning environment.
http://www.icanlearn.com/

2. Accelerated Math
Students must learn to think critically—like mathematicians—in order to master math. Accelerated Math keeps students working—and thinking—to solve a set of 6 problems before they see which ones they missed. The right amount of productive struggle helps students learn.
http://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-math/

Assistive Materials for Dysgraphia

1. Stem sentences, essay templates and graphic organizers for dysgraphia
http://storey.weebly.com/graphic-organizers-and-writing-templates.html

2. They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing with Readings (Second Edition)
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/webad.aspx?id=4294986798

3. High School Essay Templates
http://writewellapp.com/high-school-essay-templates-and-formats

4. Elementary School – Sentence Generators
http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/

5. More Stem Sentences
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/sentence-stems/

6. Handwriting without Tears
http://www.hwtears.com/hwt

Sources

Evidenced-Based Intervention Techniques for Dyslexia, Learning Disorders, and ADHD-from Turning Point Assessments
https://iqtestingdenver.com/2017/05/31/evidenced-based-intervention-techniques-for-dyslexia-learning-disorders-and-adhd/

Orton–Gillingham: What You Need to Know-by Peggy Rosen and Understood.org
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-childs-school/instructional-strategies/orton-gillingham-what-you-need-to-know

For more information about tools & resources to help improve reading fluency, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image sources:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com AND
Pixabay.com at https://pixabay.com

Tools and Strategies to Help Unfocused, Overwhelmed and Visually-Fatigued Readers

There is no doubt that in today's world, most of us are often unfocused, inattentive and overwhelmed as a result of the amount of reading required of us each day. There was a time (and not that very long ago!) that we were not faced with a hundred emails in our inbox, various "white" papers needing our attention and attached digital documents requiring review and signatures. Needless to say, that has all changed, AND these kinds of digital media vie daily for our attention in addition to the physical media demanding our readers' eyes. To say the least, we are fast becoming immersed in text 24/7. Is there any wonder that we feel overwhelmed by it all?

Then, for a moment, imagine a challenged reader who also struggles with ADHD, dyslexia or another reading issue, too. This individual is frequently overwhelmed and often unfocused even BEFORE attempting to read. What can the average amount of media currently presented daily cause for such a reader? The result is much more challenge and struggle than many of us can visualize.

There are ways to manage such focus and overwhelm issues with large (or small) amounts of reading or text. Sometimes the right tools can make all the difference for a number of readers. For others, it might be a particular tool, focusing strategy (or combination of tools and strategies), resulting in more attentive reading with better comprehension and retention.

We have gathered here a list of resources that include BOTH tools and strategies for such readers. In fact, most readers could benefit from knowing about these resources for those times when they are fatigued or just have too much reading to accomplish in a specific time period.

We hope these resources will help you or someone you know who struggles with focus and overwhelm when reading!

Other Resources to Help with Focus and Overwhelm

How to Stay Focused: Train Your Brain from Entrepreneur
Amid the noise, understanding your brain’s limitations and working around them can improve your focus and increase your productivity. This article will provide some tips for how to do that.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/225321

The RIGHT Strategies Get the Job Done for Challenged Readers w/ ADHD & Others
Refer to this set of specific strategies often, and then match the appropriate strategies to every reading situation in order to improve focusing and tracking skills as well as overall reading success.
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-right-strategies-get-job-done-for.html

Distracted Reading in the Digital Age by Elizabeth Randolph and Vassar
This article describes how an English professor and a librarian help students focus and read with more success.
https://vq.vassar.edu/issues/2015/01/features/distracted-reading.html

Strategies and Accommodations for Challenged Readers
This web page provides a FREE downloadable list of strategies to help unfocused and overwhelmed, challenged readers of all ages.
http://www.focusandread.com/learning-strategies

Kindle & Reading Focus Cards Apps Work TOGETHER to Help ADHD & Dyslexic Readers Succeed!
The combination of these two desktop apps can work together to provide more FOCUS and less OVERWHELM than any other tech device for ADHD or dyslexia.
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-kindle-and-reading-focus-cards-apps.html

10 Bible Verses For When You Feel Overwhelmed by Rachel Wojo
Sometimes, the best remedy for feeling overwhelmed is reading God’s Word. The article here may be a simple post, but it is a beeline of verses that might hit the heart of the matter and could be just what the doctor ordered.
http://rachelwojo.com/10-bible-verses-for-when-you-feel-overwhelmed/

18 Tips to Support Dyslexics & Other Challenged Readers
This article offers readers a list of 18 tips to help and support the challenged reader(s) in your family or in your classroom.
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2017/02/18-tips-to-support-dyslexics-and-other.html

Feeling Overwhelmed is a Common Anxiety Symptom by CalmClinic
Feeling overwhelmed is perhaps the most common symptom of anxiety, and it can actually affect you on a very base level. This resource from CalmClinic will provide some ideas to help you manage the anxiety of being overwhelmed.
http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/feeling-overwhelmed

Low-tech Reading Focus Cards - Customizable reading tools for physical books, documents & other applications (From $16.95)
http://www.focusandread.com/products

Reading Focus Cards App - Virtual index card-like reading tool to aid visual focus, tracking, fluency, comprehension & retention---infinitely customizable (Mac, PC-$5.99)
https://focusandread.com/reading-focus-cards-app/

OpenDyslexic - Font designed by Abbie Gonzalez to ease visual aspects of reading for dyslexia (FREE)
http://opendyslexic.org/

For more information about tools & resources for children & teens with ADHD, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image sources:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com AND
Pixabay.com at https://pixabay.com

BEST Websites for Assistive Tech: Audiobook Resources

Part 1 in a series of articles about Assistive Technologies for Challenged Readers

If you know or help a challenged reader, you also know that the RIGHT technologies can make ALL the difference in the world for an individual's level of reading success. Being aware of the BEST technology available for a specific reading issue will increase the possibility of that same individual experiencing even MORE reading success.

When printed media presents problems for some readers, there are helpful tech options available to allow such individuals to read with more comfort, focus, comprehension and retention, improving the over-all reading experience. In this article, we present text-to-speech as just one type of technology that can significantly help and support all types of struggling readers.

Text-to-speech technologies convert printed text into spoken words using synthesized voices. This type of technology is built into most computer operating systems, mobile devices, and e-book readers. In addition, there is a range of software, apps and extensions that also provide this support. This text-to-speech technology provides much support for the many readers who need it in the form of audiobooks, recordings of human narrators reading aloud.

Resources for Audiobooks---When LISTENING Is a Better Option

Kindle Fire and Immersion Reading
Kindle Fire's VoiceView features IVONA's natural language text-to-speech voice.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TSUGXKE/ref=sv_devicesubnav_1#tech
Immersion Reading (Video)
See the e-text highlighted while listening to narrated audiobook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccwBwnhD9SE

Audible app (for Mac, PC, iOS, Android, Windows Phone)
https://www.audible.com/sw

All You Can Books
http://www.allyoucanbooks.com/

Overdrive Media Console
Borrow digital audiobooks and e-books from local libraries.
https://app.overdrive.com/

Learning Ally Link (for Mac, PC, iOS)
https://www.learningally.org/link

Learning Ally Audio
iOS app for Learning Ally audiobooks.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learning-ally-audio/id418888450?mt=8

Learning Ally Audio
Android app for Learning Ally audiobooks.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.learningally.learningallyaudioandroid&hl=en

Sources:

Assistive Technology Tools for Learning Differences, ADHD, and Executive Function Challenges
by Shelley Haven ATP, RET
http://techpotential.net/attoolbox

AT Toolbox-Assistive Technology Tools for Education---Text To Speech
http://www.attoolbox.com/text-to-speech/

For more information about assistive technologies for challenged readers, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

The RIGHT Strategies Get the Job Done for Challenged Readers with ADHD and Others

For students to become good readers, they need to be shown how to adjust their reading behavior to deal with a variety of situations, types of input, and reading purposes. Each student must develop a set of specific strategies and match the appropriate strategies to every reading situation in order to improve skills and overall reading success.

The following 5 strategies can make all the difference for readers who lack the needed focus and attention to content that must be read. In fact, these strategies have the potential to help all individuals experience more reading success!

The RIGHT Strategies That Help Students Read More Quickly & Effectively

1. Previewing
Review titles, section headings, and photo captions to get a sense of the purpose, structure and content of a reading selection prior to actually reading that same selection.

2. Predicting
Use your prior knowledge of the subject matter and about the author to make predictions about content, vocabulary and writing style.

3. Skimming and Scanning
Do a quick survey of the text to get the main idea, identify text structure, confirm or question predictions.

4. Guess-timating with Context Clues
Use your prior knowledge of the subject and the ideas provided in the text as clues to the meanings of unknown words (instead of stopping to look them up).

5. Paraphrasing
Stop at the end of a section to check comprehension by restating the information and ideas in the text.

How Teachers Can Help Students Learn When & How to Use These Reading Strategies

1. Model the Strategies
By modeling the strategies aloud, talking through the processes of previewing, predicting, skimming and scanning, and paraphrasing. This shows students how the strategies work and how much they can know about a text before they begin to read word by word.

2. Allow Class Time to Use the Strategies
By allowing time in class for group and individual previewing and predicting activities as preparation for in-class or out-of-class reading. Allocating class time to these activities indicates their importance and value.

3. Use Cloze Exercises for Vocabulary
By using cloze (fill in the blank) exercises to review vocabulary items. This helps students learn to guess meaning from context.

4. Encourage Student Discussion of Successful Strategies
By encouraging students to talk about what strategies they think will help them approach a reading assignment, and then talking after reading about what strategies they actually used. This helps students develop flexibility in their choice of strategies.

In conclusion, when students are shown and then learn how to use the right reading strategies, they find that they can control the reading experience and gain confidence in their ability to read the content. These are the important keys to reading success both in current learning situations as well in the future.

Source: Strategies for Developing Reading Skills from NCLRC-The National Capital Language Resource Center, Washington, DC
http://nclrc.org/essentials/reading/stratread.htm

For information on digital & low-tech reading tools for ADHD, dyslexia and other challenges, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

Kindle & Reading Focus Cards Apps Work TOGETHER to Help ADHD & Dyslexic Readers Succeed!

With these 2 DESKTOP apps added to your tech toolbox, you'll be ready to support even more challenged readers in your classroom this year!

With the estimated 1 in 5 persons in the U.S. challenged with dyslexia and the 8 to 13% (depending on the state) of school-aged children in our country who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorders (ADHD), there is a significant need today to provide support for challenged readers and learners. These individuals can find it particularly difficult to focus, decode, track, concentrate, comprehend and retain information when reading, especially for extended periods or when many pages of text must be read at a time. Assistive technologies in recent years have begun to provide this much-needed support.

1. Turn Your Computer into a Kindle with This FREE App from Amazon!
One of the most popular and easily recognizable technologies to help these challenged readers is Amazon's Kindle, the well-known e-reader launched in late 2007 that has been most disruptive in the publishing world. The Kindle technology enables readers to eliminate glare with a unique screen, diminish the starkness of white page backgrounds behind virtual text, manipulate font or text sizes and more to assist persons with various reading issues.

Did you know that readers can actually download the FREE Kindle app to a desktop or laptop? Whether the hardware is a Mac or Windows PC, it costs nothing to turn one's computer or laptop into a virtual Kindle and then immediately purchase and download e-books to that computer from Amazon.com.

2. Add the Reading Focus Cards App to the Kindle App & Watch What Happens on Your Desktop!

For challenged readers who often struggle with focus and attention, tracking, comprehension and retention, it would be hard to beat the combination of the Kindle app AND an innovative application called the Reading Focus Cards desktop app (Patent 8,360,779) for Macs and Windows PC's. If you know a challenged student or other struggling reader with ADHD or dyslexia, this 2-app combination can enable that individual to experience more comfortably focused, sustained and successful reading of e-books or other digital media. ($5.99 per download)

3. When in use, the virtual Reading Focus Card actually floats on top AND stays on top of e-book pages or any underlying application to more easily read a web page, Word or PDF document, Excel spreadsheet, e-book or other digital media. If readers become overwhelmed with too much text on a digital page of an e-book, the Reading Focus Cards app directs the eye to what needs to be read WHILE covering as much or as little of the surrounding text as selected by the reader. Nearly an entire digital e-book page can be covered to improve focus on the text line needing attention.

4. Easily move the virtual Reading Focus Card over an underlying e-book or other application on the screen with a touch pad, mouse, arrow keys or even with your fingers, where touch technology is applicable. No speed reading here. Move the virtual card at your comfortable reading rate.

5. With this app's pop-up Toolbox, independently customize the color, level of transparency, height, width and orientation of both the virtual Reading Window and Reading Card, respectively, to provide more reading comfort and focus to block out distractions and keep you focused on the text you are reading.

6. Never worry about the virtual Reading Focus Card disappearing from the screen unexpectedly, even when using with the Kindle app or other underlying programs! It floats on top AND stays on top of your computer screen, so you can scroll through e-book pages as well as read documents without interruption. You decide when to close the application.

Special Note: Currently, mobile devices are unable to successfully support this unique, overlay-type Reading Focus Cards app that stays on top of and moves independently of the underlying media applications.

Now, readers of any age and ability can improve their focus to read e-books as well as other digital media in greater comfort and with much more reading success. Now it is possible to create your own reading system by combining these 2 great literacy apps, the Kindle app AND the Reading Focus Cards desktop app---and all for less than the price of a paperback!

Happy Reading---now for everyone!

Sources
By the Numbers: 120+ Amazing Amazon Statistics (2016)
by Craig Smith, of DMR
http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/amazon-statistics/

e-Book Statistics Update
from Writing for Life
http://www.livewritethrive.com/2012/06/18/ebook-statistics-update/

Research-Based Literacy Tool – Helpful App for Struggling Readers
by Jayne Clare, of Teachers With Apps
http://www.teacherswithapps.com/research-based-literacy-tool-evolves-helpful-app-struggling-readers/

Reading Focus Cards Desktop App---Patent 8,360,779 (for Macs & PC's)
For Macs: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12 or visit the Mac App Store and search for the Reading Focus Cards.
For Windows PCs: https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards OR visit the Microsoft Windows Store and search for the Reading Focus Cards. (No URLs provided for apps in the Windows Store.)

Kindle App for Macs, Windows PC's & Other Tech Devices
from Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/kcp-landing-page/

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations [1867 Edition]. A Public Domain Book. N.p. N.d. e-Book.
This is the e-book available via Amazon.com used for the screenshots in this article.
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Expectations-Charles-Dickens-ebook/dp/B0082SWC30/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1472929542&sr=1-1&keywords=great+expectations

For information on digital & low-tech reading tools for dyslexia, ADHD and other challenges, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
MrRental: http://www.mrrental.com.au/media/computers-office/v5-431p-05_-copy.jpg?sfvrsn=0 and
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

9 Resources to Address the Growing Need for Better Critical Thinking in All Readers

To say that there is significantly more media daily presented to the public than ever before would be an understatement. Since the year 2000, there has been an increase of 34 percent in the number of Americans who use the internet, resulting in a total of 84 percent of all Americans regularly logging on (as of 2015, the most recent year for data). Because of this widespread use of the worldwide web in recent years, reading the growing barrage of digital media can sometimes be overwhelming, particularly when attention, focus, comprehension and retention of that information is essential. Then, the prioritizing of that information for further evaluation can be especially daunting for challenged readers, as this step requires a higher level of mental effort, better known as critical thinking.

In addition, we all know how much access to instructional and troubleshooting information has now been transferred from personal interaction (i.e., via phone or in-person dialogue) and physical, printed text to the digital presentation of that same information. Now more than ever, an individual who needs instructions for assembly of a recently purchased product or directions for how to repair an issue with one's computer or other device, must digitally access those instructions via the internet, as a hard copy of the directions may no longer be provided with the product or the service. What's more, the instructions may only be visible for a limited period of time or only when visiting a particular web page.

Discerning which information is applicable or pertinent to a current question or issue is also most important. Skimming and scanning skills must be honed to make shorter work of the information actually needed or targeted. Key points must be read carefully and put into a sequence, especially when instructions are sought. (For visual learners, a physical listing of these key points on a piece of paper might even be advisable here.) Finally, the successful implementation or application of what has been read is hopefully then able to be achieved.

Increasingly here at Brennan Innovators, we are discovering that each of us in the office must be able to effectively research, navigate, and troubleshoot technological issues to a certain extent in order to enable all clients and customers to access our products and services without interruption or difficulty. This is required together wit all other duties and responsibilities.

In short, reading is required everywhere and in increasing amounts with the added component of discernment and evaluation. What we're talking about here is critical thinking and problem solving. For this reason, we are providing resources here to help challenged readers and others develop better critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Included here are links to articles for general information as well as resources with games, activities and more for this purpose. We hope at least one of these listed links will help someone you know to improve those much needed skills in our digitally-daunting, media-driven world today.

Resources to Help Improve Critical-Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving---by Partnership for 21st Century Learning
General information and resources (includes Bloom's Taxonomy, lesson plans, other resources for the classroom, etc.) to help promote, encourage and further develop skills that involve critical thinking and problem solving.
http://www.p21.org/about-us/p21-framework/260-critical-thinking-and-problem-solving

35+ Critical-Thinking & Problem-Solving Resources---by J. M. Brennan
A growing collection of direct links (via Pinterest) to many different kinds of resources (for all ages) that promote critical-thinking and problem-solving skills development. Links listed provide games, puzzles, activities and more for this purpose.
https://www.pinterest.com/brennajn2000/critical-thinking-problem-solving-resources/

Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Children---from Bright Horizons, Family Solutions
Information and tips for teaching critical thinking & problem solving
http://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/e-family-news/2014-developing-critical-thinking-skills-in-children/

How You Can Help Children Solve Problems---by Ellen Booth Church, Scholastic (for Pre-K to Gr. 2)
Children are natural problem solvers, and early childhood settings offer countless opportunities for children to grow in their problem-solving abilities. These important experiences help children learn to value different kinds of thinking, think logically and creatively, and take an active role in their world. The tips in this article will be helpful for parents and teachers of young children.
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/how-you-can-help-children-solve-problems

Creativity/Problem Solving/Critical Thinking Lesson Plans and Resources
The sites listed here provide lesson plans and resources for promoting problem solving, creativity, and critical thinking. Click on a topic from the site index to find what you need. Resources include math problems, puzzles, word games, brainteasers and mystery hunts.
http://www.eds-resources.com/edcreative.htm

Critical Thinking---from The Critical Thinking Company
A sizable list of links to articles is provided here to help teach critical thinking skills to all kinds of learners (including individuals with autism and other special needs)
http://www.criticalthinking.com/articles

Critical Thinking for Children with Developmental Disorders: A Strategy that Works---from Upbility
Drawing on the vast range of definitions and techniques available for teaching critical thinking skills, the 3-cycle strategy presented here and developed by Upbility can be easily and flexibly used to address the particular needs of pre-school and primary school children with developmental disorders.
https://upbility.net/blogs/news/48373505-critical-thinking-for-children-with-developmental-disorders-a-strategy-that-works

All Kinds of Brain-Training Exercises---for You & Your Child!
Resources for improving brain function both with specific, physical exercises and with other brain-building activities.
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2013/06/all-kinds-of-brain-training-exercises.html

Engaging Critical Thinking Skills with Learners of the Special Populations---by Stacie Deyglio
A FREE 10-page printable that describes the importance of teaching all students to pose good questions and to learn how to make meaning from complex ideas. Through Socratic dialogue, project-based learning, and other methods designed to engage all students deeply in the learning process, this teacher helps all learners to be engaged. The author is a dual-certified educator in 7-12 adolescent education within the specialty areas of biology and students with disabilities.
http://www.nysut.org/~/media/files/nysut/resources/2015/april/6_edvoiceviii_ch6.pdf?la=en

Sources
Americans’ Internet Access: 2000-2015---by Andrew Perrin and Maeve Duggan
As internet use nears saturation for some groups, a look at patterns of adoption
http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/06/26/americans-internet-access-2000-2015/

For information on customizable tools to improve focus and attention at work, school or at home, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

How to Re-Engage Reluctant Readers

The holidays are winding down, and, let's face it, many children are probably not very enthused about the coming week's return to school. Although one Christmas carol's lyrics mention that "...Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again," the parents of children who often struggle in school may be much less excited about classes resuming and the reading that will be required. What can a parent or teacher do to entice, engage and sustain the attention of an unfocused or reluctant reader?

1. Conduct an Interest Inventory.
First of all, it is imperative that you know the interests of the child or students in question. Most parents are very aware of their child's areas of interest. However, if you aren't aware of these, it is possible to do an Interest Inventory to learn which topics truly interest your child, teen or student(s). Please refer to the list of resources to follow here.

2. Why the Interest Inventory Is Valuable.
Once the interest inventory is completed by the child or the individual students, a parent or teacher will then have the needed (and very valuable) information to either direct the students to or gather the books for them on the topics of interest cited in those inventories. Reviewing the information once provided can be very revealing and give an important indication, for example, if non-fiction is preferred over fiction, if history books are of more interest than geography books or the like. The data collected can also serve as invaluable information on which to base future lesson plans, units of study or projects for specific groups of students or individual children, as may be appropriate.

3. The Interest Inventory Is Completed---Now What?
a. If budgets are low (or non-existent, as is sometimes the case), consider downloading FREE e-books for your child(ren) or student(s). For helpful resources of this type without cost, please visit our recent blog article entitled Best FREE e-Books to Engage Young Readers of ALL Ages. Please keep in mind that many e-books can be read on an existing PC or Mac computer, smartphone or tablet without the purchase of an additional device such as a Kindle, Nook or Kobo e-reader. Again, for more information on this, please refer to the resources to follow here.

b. Also, make good use of your school library, local public library or other community library for direct access to physical books on the topics presented in the completed interest inventories.

c. Consider grouping the books according to topic and placing each grouping in a specific area of your home or in a particular classroom location. Provide bean bag chairs and/or soft carpeting in these areas to more readily invite students or children to read---and with more comfort.

d. Teachers will observe that students with similar interests will gather in those areas where "their" books are stored. In so doing, not only will the children be more likely to initiate conversations with their peers about mutually-interesting topics and books, but they just might continue those discussions beyond the reading room or the classroom walls.

e. Finally, ensure that reluctant or struggling readers have the tools they need to read effectively and with success. To learn more about what kinds of low-tech AND digital tools are available for challenged readers in any age group, please visit www.FocusandRead.com.

The result? Improved interest in reading, better communication as well as better developed reading and discussion skills and increased literacy will be only a few of the benefits of such an approach. We can't think of a better way to begin the NEW Year than to encourage and re-engage reluctant readers to pick up a book that interests them and READ. Can you?

FREE Interest Inventory Templates

Student Interest Inventory Questionnaire (from Scholastic Books for Grades: 2-7)
http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/detail/?id=35571

Student Interest Inventory Questionnaire (from Scholastic Books for Grades: 4-9)
http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/detail/?id=35689

Free Interest Inventory Test For High School Students
FREE printable interest inventories with related documents, manuals and e-books for high school students.
https://docs.askives.com/free-interest-inventory-test-for-high-school-students.html

AREA 10 SCHOOL-TO-WORK: Career Interest and Skill Inventories (from Area 10 Schools in Iowa)
http://www.aea10.k12.ia.us/curr/stw/Career-Interest-Inv.html

Collection of Interest Surveys (from Michigan City Area Schools)
We don't always know what we want, let alone need. An interest survey can help a teacher figure out what his or her students are thinking, what they may want or even need, and how they can best be helped. To find out more about yourself, take an interest survey. The surveys listed in this collection are either web-based or printable.
http://www.mcas.k12.in.us/Page/4826

Compiled Documents for Reading---Vocational Interest Inventories
http://www.wpracetech.com/tor/reading-free-vocational-interest-inventory-2-rfvii-2/

Other Resources

FREE Kindle Reading App---by Amazon.com
Follow the easy steps presented here to start reading on your tablet, smartphone, or computer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/kcp-landing-page?ie=UTF8&ref_=klp_mn

FREE NOOK Reading App---by Barnes & Noble
Get the most incredible reading experience for your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch®. Access over 3 million books—including 1 million FREE titles—plus magazines, newspapers, comics, and more. Sample NOOK books FREE and try any newspaper or magazine FREE for 14 days.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nook/id373582546?mt%3D8

FREE Kobo Reading App---by Kobo, Inc.
Download the FREE Kobo e-reader app to read whenever and wherever you want, and then choose from a catalog of more than 4 million of the world's best titles.
http://www.kobo.com/apps

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas---by James Pierpont (published, 1857)
Reference for lyrics, "...Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again."
http://www.the-north-pole.com/carols/look.html

Practical Resources for Parents of Kids with ADHD---Right Now!

The family Thanksgiving Dinner is only a pleasant memory. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are now history, and the media tell us that there are only so many shopping days left until Christmas. Without a doubt, the annual holiday season is in full swing, but your child with ADHD is getting more easily excited and increasingly distracted as December 25th fast approaches. What is a parent to do---and ALL while making your family's preparations for this special time of the year?

A child or teen who does not have ADHD is normally pretty excited about the coming of Hannukah, Christmas or Kwanzaa. However, a child or teenager who struggles with the symptoms of ADHD is so much more affected by the anticipation of the holidays and their related activities that the situation can pose real problems for the child and certainly for his parents, too.

At Brennan Innovators, LLC, we love solving problems for parents, teachers and children, especially issues related to reading, learning, behavior and additional needs (they are all related, of course!) That is why this week we are providing a handful of resources to help parents of children with ADHD during these hectic weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. We hope the resources here will help someone you know to be a bit more relaxed and focused during the coming weeks of celebration. That way, you'll ALL enjoy the holidays this year!

Practical Resources for Parents of Kids with ADHD for the Holiday Season

Resources for Kids with LD and/or ADHD (A Book List for Kids with LD)
by Jill Lauren, Learning Specialist and Author, Succeeding with LD
This is a list of great books for kids in which the main character struggles with some aspect of learning. The characters often appeal to kids with LD and/or ADHD as they can relate to the characters and learn from their development. Note that many kids may benefit from having the books read to them or hearing them on tape.
http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/Resources-for-Kids-with-LD-ADHD/416

Choosing Educational Fun Games & Activities for the Holidays
by Bonnie Terry, M. Ed., BCET
This article with resources will provide information on how to choose educational games and activities to keep your kids engaged and learning over the holidays. http://www.bonnieterry.com/blog/2012/12/choosing-educational-fun-games-for-the-holidays/

The Holidays with ADHD Children
by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.
Even if you are a parent with ADHD and your children share the disorder, it is possible to reduce stress during holiday time. This article provides some good ideas.
http://www.sevencounties.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=34623&cn=3

Avoid Holiday Havoc: Help for ADHD Children
by Carol Brady, Ph.D. and ADDitude Magazine
Six ways for parents to help their ADHD children enjoy holiday celebrations without behavior problems, family conflict, or ADD symptom flare-ups.
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/900.html

ADD/ADHD Parenting Tips
Helping Children and Teens with Attention Deficit Disorder
Life with a child with ADD/ADHD can be frustrating and overwhelming, but as a parent there is a lot you can do to help control and reduce the symptoms. You can help your child overcome daily challenges, channel his or her energy into positive arenas, and bring greater calm to your family. The earlier and more consistently you address your child’s problems, the greater chance they have for success in life.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/attention-deficit-disorder-adhd-parenting-tips.htm

Best ADHD Books for Parents and Kids
Get Expert Advice for Your Child With ADHD
by Lori Newman, Lifescript Staff Writer
If your child has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), where can you find the information you need? Lifescript asked experts to recommend ADHD books for parents and kids that will help you manage the condition. Their suggestions are presented here.
http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/adhd_pediatric/articles/best_adhd_books_for_parents_and_kids.aspx

Parenting Kids with ADHD: 16 Tips to Tackle Common Challenges
by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.
This link provides excellent tips for parents of children with ADHD.
http://psychcentral.com/lib/parenting-kids-with-adhd-16-tips-to-tackle-common-challenges/0006557

ADHD and Reading Difficulties
by Susie McGee, M.Ed, Teacher
ADHD and reading difficulties often go hand in hand. In fact, reading difficulties are some of the most common problems associated with ADHD in children. Because ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) interferes with the learning process, reading and other academic skills can continue to fall behind if the symptoms aren't recognized and addressed. This article will offer some help with these issues.
http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/ADHD_and_Reading_Difficulties

For more information on customizable low-tech & digital reading tools for all kinds of challenged readers, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image: Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

FREE Literacy Apps for ALL Kinds of Struggling Readers

The month of October is always an "active" month for us, and this October 2014 definitely did not disappoint! It has been a very busy week here at Brennan Innovators with quite a number of parent phone consultations, the continuous packing and shipping of Reading Focus Card orders and the finalizing of preparations for a new product launch! Yes, a new product (unlike anything we've offered previously)! Next week in our blog article, we'll be telling you all about it, too. (Patience, patience, please!)

Traditionally at this part of October, parents and teachers are also meeting for the first conferences of the school year to discuss student progress. Also by this time in the semester, it can be fairly apparent to an educator if a student is experiencing issues with one or more reading skills. There might be a problem with focus and attention or fluency. Comprehension or retention of what is read could be issues. Parents may notice that it takes "forever" for their child to complete reading or written assignments at home. Other red flags might be raised, and solutions are urgently sought to help the challenged reader improve the deficient reading skills.

This week, we wanted to respond to a large number of email and phone requests as well as the many recent searches on our blog for "struggling reader apps." We thought we'd even take it a little further and offer a list of FREE apps in this often-requested category. In addition, we wanted to provide these apps for ALL kinds of challenged readers---for young, new readers, adolescents, middle-school readers, low-vision readers and even an application for teachers of struggling readers.

So, we hope that you will take a minute or two to survey the list of FREE iPad and Android apps we have created here for struggling readers in your life. We also hope you will discover at least one of them that will offer your child or students the help needed to read with much more success Oh, yes, and don't forget to check back here next week for that new product announcement! We think you'll be glad you did!

FREE Literacy Apps for Struggling Readers

8 Apps For Struggling Adolescent Readers (for Android & iPad)
by Hope Mulholland, Te@chThought
FREE apps that provide e-books, audiobooks and more for challenged teen readers can be found here.
http://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/8-apps-for-struggling-adolescent-readers/

Free App: One Minute Reader (Android & iPad)
If you have a child struggling with reading, download the free One Minute Reader app for iPad on iTunes. This app from the respected Minnesota-based company, Reading Naturally, contains a placement process to decide what reading level is right for your child and includes one FREE story from each level.
For Android: http://filedir.com/android/books-reference/one-minute-reader-3899592.html)
For iPad: http://oneminutereader.com/

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read (Compatible with iPhone, iPad, & iPod touch-Optimized for iPhone 5)
by Hooked on Phonics
This FREE app is based on the award-winning Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read system. Millions of kids have learned to read using Hooked on Phonics. Now, we are proud to introduce our exciting new digital reading program!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hooked-on-phonics-helping/id588868907?mt=8

Phonics Genius (Compatible with iPhone, iPad, & iPod touch)
by Innovative Mobile Apps
Over 6,000 words grouped by phonics sounds! This FREE app is an excellent resource for teaching phonemic awareness!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phonics-genius/id461659980?mt=8

iCam Magnifier (Compatible with iPhone, iPad, & iPod touch-Optimized for iPhone 5)
FREE low vision app from Clarix (iCam is a low vision magnifier and reader for your iPhone or iPad. It features 5 high-contrast false color modes, as well as black and white, and color. If you struggle with reading, iCam can help magnify printed text. With an optional light, use it in dim lit rooms, restaurants, home, etc. It can be used to read menus, receipts, pill bottles & more.)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icam-magnifier/id628567362?ls=1&mt=8

Fluency Tutor™ for Google (Android)
by TextHelp, Ltd.
Fluency Tutor™ for Google is a FREE, easy-to-use reading and assessment tool that helps busy teachers support struggling readers.
Great for time-stretched teachers, Fluency Tutor™ for Google lets students practice reading aloud at their own pace.
Make reading aloud more fun and satisfying for even your most reluctant students. It’s also great for early readers and individuals learning English as a second language. (Student app is used in conjunction with the Teacher app.)
Teacher App: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/fluency-tutor-for-google/ejajakfhhhhkifioabcekjjlhpoiijfa (available from the Chrome Web Store)
Student App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.texthelp.fluencytutorstudent (available from Google Play)

For more information on customizable reading tools for all kinds of challenged readers, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

BEST Literacy Apps for Kids

Last weekend, we had the great privilege of attending the “2014 Literacy for All Conference: The Community Reads” presented by the Harris-Stowe State University College of Education and the St. Louis Suburban Council of the International Reading Association. Brennan Innovators has participated and exhibited at this annual conference for the past five years, and each year, the speakers have been excellent.

We want to especially thank Dr. Betty Porter-Walls, faculty member at the university, for organizing and presenting this event all of those five years. Her enthusiasm has always been infectious, and as a result, attendees have always left the conferences re-inspired, re-energized and ready to promote literacy in their classrooms in new and exciting ways. With Dr. Betty's brand of organization, preparation and enthusiasm on tap once again, this year was no exception.

The session topics at the conference were timely yet practical. From “Tips to Make a Guided Reading Program More Effective” [K-6] by Dr. Sam Bommarito to "Using Favorite Read-Alouds to Develop Curriculum [PK-3] by Ms. Julia Auch, the conference offered much to the educators who attended last Saturday's event.

We spoke with many teachers that day who took time to visit us at our Reading Focus Cards' exhibit table. A number of them commented on the increasing number of challenged readers coming to their classrooms. A few educators mentioned that students are so easily distracted when attempting to read a selection. Others cited that their students need some type of sustained visual stimulation (i.e. pictures, color, graphics or technology) to stay on-task or to effectively learn concepts. These were only two of the reasons why conference attendees visited us at the event. We demonstrated and allowed the teachers to interact with the Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759), our low-tech tools for challenged readers. We appreciated their high level of interest in wanting to help students who struggle to read.

More than a few times, the attendees requested apps and tech tools to assist with building reading skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency---in addition to help with focusing and tracking. We provided them with handouts that included strategies and website links to aid them.

Because of the teachers' requests and a similar demand experienced recently with our other clients and customers, we decided to provide our blog readers this week with a list of literacy apps for educators and parents to help children build some of those all-important reading skills. We included both iPad and Android apps in the list and grouped them into different reading skill categories. We have found these to be some of the most frequently recommended reading skills apps currently available. We believe the apps in this list will definitely do much to entice reluctant readers to begin reading, keep unfocused readers engaged, and provide the colorful visuals to get students excited about reading everyday---all while improving reading skill levels. We hope you and a struggling reader you know will benefit from the use of at least one of them!

FREE Literacy Apps for Kids

Apps for Phonemic Awareness

ABC Magic Reading 1 - Short Vowel Words (FREE)
by Preschool University
This sampler app can help your child’s future reading success by giving your child key reading skills practice.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-reading-magic-1-short/id416896853?mt=8

100+ Top Apps for Phonemic Awareness (for iPhone/iPad---FREE & various prices)
A long list of iPhone and iPad apps to help increase phonemic awareness for various grade levels.
http://appcrawlr.com/ios-apps/best-apps-phonemic-awareness

50+ Top Apps for Phonemic Awareness (for Android---FREE & various prices)
A collection of Android apps to help increase phonemic awareness for various grade levels.
http://appcrawlr.com/app/search?_src=sort_&max=12&q=phonemic+awareness&query=best-apps-phonemic-awareness&prefix=top-apps&price=&device=android&sort=&trigger=deviceChange

Other Literacy Apps (FREE & at Various Prices)

Apps for Phonics

ABC Magic Phonics (FREE)
by Preschool University
This app will help your child learn the sounds of the letters of the alphabet, which are necessary for reading. Learning the sounds of the letters gives your child the tools for reading and helps them become better readers. A matching phonetic photo image is matched with each letter to help your child learn the sound of each letter.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-magic-phonics/id404048724?mt=8

ABC Pocket Phonics: Letter Sounds & Writing + First Words (Price: FREE & $6.99)
by Apps in My Pocket Ltd.(For iPhone and iPad)
This "universal" app teaches the basics of reading and writing to young children.
Lite version (FREE): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-pocketphonics-lite/id302689971?mt=8
Full version ($6.99): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-pocketphonics-letter-sounds/id299342927?mt=8

Sight Word Flip It (Price: $3.99)
by ReadingResource.net
Sight Word Flip It was carefully designed by two reading specialists who have taught 100s of children to read. Not many literacy apps can make this claim! Sight Word Flip It offers an effective and engaging way for kids to learn high frequency sight words.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sight-word-flip-it/id675328955?mt=8

Starfall ABCs (Price: $2.99)
by Starfall Education
The "ABCs" section of Starfall.com's well-loved website is now available as a universal application for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Our activities motivate through positive reinforcement and play. (Note: App contains the ABC letter section only, NOT the whole website)
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/starfall-abcs/id395623983?mt=8

Apps for Fluency

Read With Me Fluency (Price: $4.99)
by sleek-geek inc.
Many educators have been looking for a system that would actually decrease the workload required for student reading assessment. This app appears to meet this need.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-with-me-fluency/id635704413?mt=8

Fluency (Price: $2.99)
by Michael Tillyer
Teachers can help students become better and more confident readers with this app. Children use the power of self correction to improve their own reading skills.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fluency/id474403640?mt=8

K-12 Timed Reading Practice Lite (FREE)
by k-12 Inc.
This app allows readers in grades K-4 to practice fluency, the ability to read smoothly and quickly (timed).
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/k12-timed-reading-practice/id384484818?mt=8

Reading Focus Cards Desktop App (Patent 8,360,779)
(for Macs & Windows PCs---Price: $5.99)
from Brennan Innovators, LLC
This DESKTOP app is the digital version of the physical Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759), solutions for struggling readers. This app for Windows PCs and Macs provides practical READING SUPPORT for children and adults with ADHD, dyslexia, autism and other conditions that can affect reading success. It promotes more FOCUS, FLUENCY and VISUAL COMFORT for online reading of almost ALL digital media (webpages, PDF files, Word docs, Excel spreadsheets & more.) In addition, the Reading Focus Card app is compatible with and supports touch-screen technology. The application can be moved on the screen over text by the fingers, mouse or arrow keys as needed. The following are direct links to purchase and download your version of this app:
a. For Macs (desktops & notebooks):
Visit the Mac App Store and search for Reading Focus Cards or go directly to
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
b. For Windows PCs (desktops & laptops):
Visit Gumroad at https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards OR visit the Microsoft Windows Store and search for the app called Reading Focus Cards. (No URLs are ever provided for apps in the Windows Store.)

For more information on customizable reading tools to improve focus and attention, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Clip Art Lord at http://www.clipartlord.com/free-tablet-computer-clip-art/
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

Brain-Training Games & Apps to Improve Executive Functions

The 21st century is nearly 15 years old, and it has become increasingly apparent that the student skill sets needed both now and in the future are and will be vastly different from those skill sets of the last century.

Success both in and outside the classroom now and in the years to come will depend on the ability of students to acquire information at increasingly accelerated rates. As teachers and parents, we now and will need to help students develop the skill sets required to analyze new information as it becomes available, to flexibly adapt when facts are revised and to be technologically fluent (as new technology becomes available). Success will also depend upon one's ability to collaborate and communicate with others on a global playing field -- with a balance of open-mindedness, foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills in order to make complex decisions using new and changing information.

There is a buzz word frequently heard these days in educational circles (and among some parents) that relates to all of this. The term is executive functions. The executive functions are those skills that would enable a corporate executive to be successful -- the ability to be flexible, interpretive, creative and have multidimensional thinking. Examples of this would include planning, risk assessment, informed decision-making, deductive and inductive reasoning, critical analysis and delay of immediate gratification to achieve long-term goals. These executive functions provide the tools the brain then uses for organizing, connecting, and prioritizing of information and tasks, attention and focusing, self-monitoring, self-correcting, accurate prediction, abstraction, and creative problem-solving.

This week's article will provide you with a list of websites AND apps with brain-training games. By accessing and interacting with these games, it is possible to significantly improve one's executive functions. The resources listed here with their direct links will address memory, focus and attention, language, reasoning, visual-spatial and other critical-thinking skills. If you or a child you know is struggling with any of these executive functions, these games could help make a positive difference. We hope you will try at least one of the resources here. Please let us know if you have discovered and utilized other good brain-training resources that might be beneficial to children or adults with executive function challenges, and we will add them to the list.

Websites for Brain-Training Games

HAPPYneuron (FREE 7-day trial with the opportunity to subscribe)
There are several different types of memory: "Working memory" processes information over a span of about 15 seconds; "short-term memory" retains information for up to about 60 seconds; and "long-term memory" stores information indefinitely. Sustained practice with memory games helps to strengthen your memory functions. In addition to memory games, this website also provides FREE brain games to help improve focus/attention, language, reasoning and visual-spatial skills.
http://www.happy-neuron.com/brain-games

MyBrainTrainer Exercises (Subscriptions available at $9.95 and up)
This site provides a collection of brain-training exercises to help improve executive functions. It also includes other features to help log progress with such skills.
http://www.mybraintrainer.com/exercise/

Brain-Training Game Apps

10 iPhone Apps that Boost Brain Function
by Martina Keyhell (for Smartphones/Mobile Applications)
Your iPhone may be able to actually boost your brainpower! These 10 apps are great brain-training apps that can increase brain function, actually making you smarter!
http://www.sitepronews.com/2013/01/31/10-iphone-apps-that-boost-brain-function/

5 Must-Have Apps for Improving Executive Functioning in Children (May 2014)
from the Beyond BookSmart Blog: Executive Functioning Strategies
There are a variety of powerful apps and technologies for improving executive functioning in children who may have weak executive functioning skills. They provide some support and scaffolding that can enhance children's overall executive functioning. The key is for parents and educators to identify areas of executive weakness and then to find apps that practice and support those skills. The following are five favorites for supporting planning, working memory, organization and time management.
http://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/5-great-apps-for-improving-executive-functioning-in-children

Five apps that could help sharpen the brain
by Jessica Naziri, Los Angeles Times
This article provides titles and direct links to 5 brain-training apps (Lumosity, Mind Games, Critical Thinking University Think-O-Meter, Brain Trainer Special & Fit Brains Trainer).
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-brain-training-apps-20130802-story.html

More Brain-Training Sources & Resources

Tips and Strategies to Improve Executive Function Skills and Working Memory
from Brain Balance Achievement Centers
This article provides excellent ideas to promote and improve executive functioning skills.
http://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/2014/03/improving-executive-function-skills/

Improving Executive Function: Teaching Challenges and Opportunities
by Judy Willis, M.D. (via Edutopia.com)
In this article, Dr. Judy Willis, a neurologist, explains executive functions, the tools the brain needs and uses to organize, connect, and prioritize information and tasks, solve problems and much more.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/improving-executive-function-judy-willis-md

Games & Strategies to Improve Executive Functions
from Help for Struggling Readers blog
This is an earlier article from our blog (July 2013) with additional brain-training resources.
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2013/07/games-strategies-to-improve-executive.html

Games and Apps for Improving Executive Functions in Children with ADHD
by Randy Kuhlman, PhD
This SlideShare presentation from the CHADD 2013 Annual International Conference on ADHD provides good information on how games and apps can support, practice and help acquire executive functions.
http://www.slideshare.net/rklearningworks/games-and-apps-for-improving-executive-functions-in-children-with-adhd-28120311

For more information on customizable reading tools to improve focus and attention, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com