Okay, so this is a photo substitution of Mena (courtesy of iStock) and that’s not her real name. She didn’t want her name or a photo of her used, because she was afraid the kids at school would somehow see this and make fun of her…Understandable, but also very sad. We’re here to change that stigma…This is “Mena”. She is in the fifth grade in a Rhode Island public school. She couldn’t read. But Mena is very lucky. How is that possible? Read on… It takes a good advocate, the right approach, and financial support… Mena’s mother is a strong advocate for her daughter and knew that Mena needed help ..read more

Difficulty with Studying and Organizing? Students who have not developed necessary study skills are at a disadvantage in the classroom and as future employees. Effective study skills are essential to becoming an independent learner, who can function well in both academic and workplace settings. This, in turn, can reduce stress and anxiety, leading to lifelong success. Interestingly, many of today’s students don’t know how to study, prepare for a test, or manage time. Furthermore, students with ADHD and/or Executive Functioning challenges often lack study skills. Today’s jam-packed school curr ..read more

RITES Proven Study Skills Approach = Better Grades and Improved Test Scores Why Do Middle School Study Skills Matter? Good organization and study skills impact not just academic performance, but employment prospects and job success down the road. Someone who already knows how to break a project down into manageable steps and complete them on time is naturally ahead of the game, compared to someone who feels overwhelmed and procrastinates. Most importantly, these skills are learned rather than something a person is born with. Because these skills are used throughout an individual’s life and ca ..read more

This earnest-looking young lady with the big, soulful eyes is Mya. We met her back in 2020. She attends a local parochial school, but she is persistently behind her peers academically. Her mom found RITES, learned that we have a financial assistance program, and applied. In 2020, we were able to take Mya off the waitlist and offer her one-to-one tutoring with multisensory, systematic instruction to address her reading deficits. For the next year, meeting with her RITES teacher twice a week, she made slow, but steady, progress with her reading. After the summer of 2020, Mya’s financial aid was ..read more

Secrets to Executive Function Success, Even with Virtual Instruction! What is Executive Functioning? Executive functioning is how our brains handle learning, organizing and prioritizing information. It also involves decision-making and implementation of strategies to complete tasks. Today’s fast-paced delivery of information demands ever-quicker reactions and turnaround time. When students struggle with these executive functioning skills, school and other areas of life can be a real challenge. How to Recognize an Executive Functioning Issue Does your student: Struggle to focus with online cl ..read more

By Lisa Bigney M.A., M.Ed, RITES Co-Director, Certified Dyslexia Interventionist What is Dyslexia? Is your child among the approximately 20% of the population who struggle to read?  If so, your child may have dyslexia. Dyslexia is a type of learning difference that makes it difficult to learn to read, write and spell, despite normal intelligence and sufficient instruction. Dyslexia is brain-based and is caused by a different “wiring” of the brain. Here are some red flags that your child may be dyslexic: Avoids reading Reads slowly/haltingly Transposes words (felt/left) Skips or guesses a ..read more

What Is Structured Literacy? Structured Literacy approaches emphasize highly explicit and systematic teaching of all crucial literacy components. Instruction begins with foundational skills, such as decoding and spelling. Then, teaching continues with higher-level literacy skills, such as reading comprehension and written expression. This approach supports explicit, sequential, systematic, prescriptive, diagnostic, and cumulative instruction. Trained teachers implement appropriate methods for all students. Structured Literacy instruction helps all students learn to read and write,&n ..read more

Do you work with students who struggle to read? Students struggle with reading for many different reasons: weak working memory, anxiety, dyslexia, ADHD, or English as their second language. Noah Text® can supplement their instruction and bolster reading skills by motivating students to immerse themselves more deeply throughout a range of reading materials and genres. NoahText® provides many benefits, such as: Allows readers to see sound-parts within words for proper decoding and enunciation Highlights syllables and long vowels, while keeping words intact Frees up cognitive resources readers c ..read more

Great Gifts for Fun AND Learning Let’s face it – no one wanted the pandemic to be the “gift that keeps on giving”…But we are still grappling with the resulting inflation, that stresses our pockets, and the supply chain issues that strain our deadlines (not to mention the mental state of the elves and reindeer!). You need some new and creative ideas for holiday gifts that won’t break the bank, but instead, give a great “bang for the buck.” How does $25 and under sound? Here are a few, hand-picked ideas from local sources (US Northeast) that have been “test driven” by the staff here at RITES…and ..read more

Information You Need to Know The SAT is undergoing another transformation as we pull out of the pandemic years of pause and reconsideration. The College Board has adapted the test, based on many factors and information gathered from the COVID-19 lock-downs, access concerns, and more. Here is some helpful information as you plan for your teen’s SAT experience: When Does the SAT Change to the Digital Format? The format change to a digital SAT will be in the Spring of 2024, with the PSAT starting in the Fall of 2023. The new SAT test will affect students in the class of 2025 (sophomores) and beyo ..read more