--- title: Reading TIPS™ Blog · How to Teach your Child to Read | Zach Silverzweig description: Founder and CEO of TinyIvy and inventor of the TinyIvy Phonics System. image: https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/kicking%20off%20new%20research%20on%20the%20science%20of%20reading.jpg --- [![TIPS™ Reading World](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20v4-1.png?width=1059&height=292&name=Logo%20v4-1.png "TIPS™ Reading World")](https://tinyivy.com/) - [How it Works](https://tinyivy.com/how-to-learn-to-read-with-tips/) - Focus Areas - [TIPS™ for Pre-K, Kindergarten & First Grade](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-kindergarten-early-reading/) - [TIPS™ for Intervention & Remediation](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-intervention-remediation/) - [TIPS™ for Students with Special Needs](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-students-with-special-needs/) - [TIPS™ for English Language Learners](https://tinyivy.com/why-should-english-language-learners-read-with-tips/) - [TIPS™ to Close the Achievement Gap](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-equity-in-literacy/) - [TIPS™ for International Schools](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-international-esl/) - Schools - [TIPS™ for Teachers](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-teachers/) - [TIPS™ for Reading Specialists](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-reading-specialists/) - [TIPS™ for District Leadership](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-district-leadership/) - [Parents](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-parents/) - [TIPS™ for Parents](https://tinyivy.com/reading-with-tips-for-parents/) - [TIPS™ Early Reader Pack](https://tinyivy.com/tips-early-reader-pack/) - [TIPS™ Reading World](https://tinyivy.com/the-best-reading-app-for-kids2/) - [TIPS™ Tutoring](https://tinyivy.com/product/early-reading-tutoring-with-tips/) - [Blog](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog) - [About](https://tinyivy.com/about-us/) - [Research Opportunities](https://tinyivy.com/research-opportunities/) - [Jobs](https://tinyivy.com/jobs/) - [About Us](https://tinyivy.com/about-us/) # Posts by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) Founder and CEO of TinyIvy and inventor of the TinyIvy Phonics System. ## [A Short Guide to Why (& Five Ways How) to Teach Spelling Like a Champion](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/outrageous-ridiculous-a-short-guide-to-why-five-ways-how-to-teach-spelling-like-a-champion) April 30, 2021 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [The Science of Reading](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/the-science-of-reading) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/how%20to%20teach%20spelling%20with%20molly%20ness.png)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/outrageous-ridiculous-a-short-guide-to-why-five-ways-how-to-teach-spelling-like-a-champion) English spelling is ridiculous and outrageous to most eight year olds. Or wait, is it outragous and ridiculeous? Humorous or Humoreous? Is the laughter contagious? Or contageous? Or contagous?  And why? Why is spelling in English so tricky? And knowing how tricky it is, how best teach it? [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/outrageous-ridiculous-a-short-guide-to-why-five-ways-how-to-teach-spelling-like-a-champion) ## [English is Harder to Read than Other Languages](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/why-reading-in-english-is-so-hard) October 14, 2020 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [The Science of Reading](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/the-science-of-reading) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/because%20trucks%20are%20not%20bicycles.jpg)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/why-reading-in-english-is-so-hard) Research Breakdown! Let's take a look at Galletly & Knights fantastic paper and learn how trucks are not bicycles, apples are not oranges, and that not all languages are the same either. This is the first Research Breakdown, taking the the science of reading and make it more accessible to everyone. [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/why-reading-in-english-is-so-hard) ## [A New Reading App With A Unique Twist on the ABCs](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/a-new-reading-app-with-a-unique-twist-on-the-abcs) October 7, 2020 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [Reading World](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/reading-world) [TIPS](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/tips) [Game](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/game) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/reinventing%20what%20kids%20play%20to%20learn%20to%20read.png)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/a-new-reading-app-with-a-unique-twist-on-the-abcs) What if English was an easier language to learn? What if what was so easy that a simple game, played a few minutes a day, could teach your child everything they needed to know to end Kindergarten reading like a 3rd grader? What if that worked for everyone? [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/a-new-reading-app-with-a-unique-twist-on-the-abcs) ## [A Technology Backbone to Better Manage Curriculum](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/using-contentful-as-a-content-system-for-curriculum) September 14, 2020 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [Building an EdTech Company](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/building-an-edtech-company) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/technology%20backbone%20to%20manage%20curriculum.jpg)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/using-contentful-as-a-content-system-for-curriculum) There is a sense of urgency in every startup. Funding is scarce, time is short, and the team is small. There is a ton of work to do and constant questions as to the best path forward you can take to balance building a long-term foundation with gaining short-term success. So when you come across a tool that solves an immediate problem, is affordable, and lays the foundation for a bright future, it's worth talking about. That's just how we felt when we came across Contentful.com, the Content Management System we use to organize and update our Curriculum. [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/using-contentful-as-a-content-system-for-curriculum) ## [Kicking Off New Research on the Science of Reading](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/kicking-off-new-research-on-the-science-of-reading) September 3, 2020 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [The TIPS™ System](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/the-tips-system) [News](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/news) [The Science of Reading](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/the-science-of-reading) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/kicking%20off%20new%20research%20on%20the%20science%20of%20reading.jpg)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/kicking-off-new-research-on-the-science-of-reading) Great news from the Reading World headquarters: we are excited to announce the kick-off of our first major research project! The research study will be supported by the excellent team at Johns Hopkins Center for Research and Reading Evaluation, to explore the impact of teaching children to read with TIPS™. [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/kicking-off-new-research-on-the-science-of-reading) ## [A New Strategy to Support Dyslexic Reading](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/a-new-strategy-to-support-dyslexic-reading) August 31, 2020 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [literacy](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/literacy) [The TIPS™ System](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/the-tips-system) [reading disabilities](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/reading-disabilities) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/blog%20post%20header%20maker.jpg)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/a-new-strategy-to-support-dyslexic-reading) When a child has dyslexia, reading is painful. Slow. Halting. It's a biological problem, rooted deeply in how the brain works to process what we see into what we say. It is also common. Dyslexics are the [largest single group](https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/dyslexiapresentationpdf) of students in special education, by some estimates up to [17% of students](http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/dyslexics/learn-about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia/debunking-common-myths-about-dyslexia#:~:text=Fact%3A%20In%20the%20United%20States,difficulties%20in%20elementary%20school%20children). And sadly, for 70% of students, you don't outgrow it, despite all the interventions we try. Dyslexia, for most, is a lifelong, chronic disability. [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/a-new-strategy-to-support-dyslexic-reading) ## [Choosing a Phonics Program for Kindergarten](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/choosing-a-phonics-program-for-kindergarten) August 10, 2020 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [literacy](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/literacy) [early childhood education](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/early-childhood-education) [The TIPS™ System](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/the-tips-system) [learning to read](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/learning-to-read) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/blog-header-how-to-choose-phonics-for-pre-k-1.jpg)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/choosing-a-phonics-program-for-kindergarten) Whatever your motivation, the goal is the same: your child needs to learn phonics to become an amazing reader. Maybe they are three years old and just getting started with letters and sounds, or maybe they are six and you want to make sure they don't fall behind even though "learning" is [now virtual for your school](https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/06/03/most-educators-want-schools-to-stay-closed.html).  However, the best phonics program for kindergarten might not be what you think. [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/choosing-a-phonics-program-for-kindergarten) ## [Best Practices for Pod After-School](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/pod-after-school-is-an-alternative-to-expensive-pod-school) August 3, 2020 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [early childhood education](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/early-childhood-education) [learning to read](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/learning-to-read) [covid](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/covid) [education equality](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/education-equality) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/blog-header-best-practices-for-pod-after-school.jpg)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/pod-after-school-is-an-alternative-to-expensive-pod-school) *Pod After School* is an alternative to expensive Pod School programs, which can be organized by small family groups at virtually no cost. The benefits can be huge, read on to find out how to carry them out safely. [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/pod-after-school-is-an-alternative-to-expensive-pod-school) ## [How English Spelling Slows Down Progress in Early  Literacy](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/how-english-spelling-slows-down-progress-in-early-literacy) July 30, 2020 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/how%20english%20slows%20things%20down.jpg)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/how-english-spelling-slows-down-progress-in-early-literacy) More than half of kids in the US will never achieve grade level proficiency in reading. That's more than 10 million kids! In the past ten years, there has been [new research](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18605821/) that might explain why all these kids won't learn to read. The root cause is *the English language itself*. But we can do something about it. [Read More](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/how-english-spelling-slows-down-progress-in-early-literacy) ## [Existing Phonics Programs Fail to Deliver](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/existing-phonics-programs-fail-to-deliver) December 16, 2019 by [Zach Silverzweig](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/author/zach-silverzweig) [Product Reviews](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/product-reviews) [The Science of Reading](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/topic/the-science-of-reading) [![](https://blog.tinyivy.com/hubfs/existing%20phonics%20program%20fail%20to%20deliver.jpg)](https://blog.tinyivy.com/blog/existing-phonics-programs-fail-to-deliver) While advances in the science of reading continue, the literacy products used by schools and classrooms and teachers have failed to keep pace. None of the programs reviewed in the recent [EdReports review](https://www.edreports.org/compare/results/ela-foundational-skills) "meets expectations" overall, even within a single category.  Even clear and established guidelines like phonemic awareness and decoding are poorly addressed by existing solutions. Fortunately, there is a better tool in the horizon. 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