Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ's
Why is there such a critical need to establish a statewide reading clinic?
Reading is the cornerstone of academic, economic, and professional success in our society. Over time, many students who experience reading difficulties slip into a downward spiral of low achievement and poor self-esteem. The problem becomes even more distressing when one realizes it is possible to redress most reading difficulties-if they are detected early in a student's school career and effective instructional intervention is provided. Thus, it is vitally important that parents and educators have effective resources for assisting at-risk and struggling readers.
Who does the UURC serve?
The 2001 Utah Legislature (53A-3-402.10) directed the UURC to focus primarily on students in grades one through three. However, services are available to students of all ages-based on availability.
The UURC provides assessment and intervention services directly to individual children and parents. In addition the UURC extends its immediate reach by providing professional development in reading intervention to educators throughout the state.
What services are available for my child at the UURC?
On-site assessment and intervention for individual students.
Parents or legal guardians concerned about their child's reading ability may contact the UURC to make an appointment for basic reading assessment.
Based on assessment results, the child may be recommended to receive reading intervention provided by a member of the clinic's professionally-trained staff. Those interventions include:
- Early StepsSM for at-risk 1st graders & students reading below a primer level
- Next StepsSM for 2nd - 6th graders "stuck" between primer & end-of-Grade-2 level
Intervention takes place on-site at the clinic in a one-on-one setting.
While basic intervention is effective with most struggling readers, research indicates that 3% of elementary students (Vellutino et al., 1996) may have a specific reading disability (i.e., dyslexia.). The UURC has been working with dyslexic students since 2002. [While we are able to work with dyslexic students, we are not currently able to officially diagnose a student as dyslexic.]
How do I follow the recommendations from my child's assessment?
Follow the appropriate links for more information:
- Directions for repeated readings - - - Graph for repeated reading
- Directions for "high frequency" word study - - - List of high frequency words
- Suggestions for "listening to a child read aloud"
How do I find books for my child to read at home with me?
Once your child's reading level has been determined you will need to find a book that has been "Leveled", that is, a book that is at your child's instructional level.