The focus for children learning to read, usually five to six year old children in kindergarten and first grade, should be on decoding and word recognition, including sight word identification. Fluency and reading comprehension are also key reading components, but are not the primary focus for beginning readers.

Ideas for Beginning Readers
Below are a few suggestions of particular importance for children with CAS when they are learning to read. Remember, reading instruction at all levels should be successful and rewarding for your child. Experiencing failure or frustration is counterproductive – you want reading to be a positive experience! Since children vary greatly in their skills and reading readiness, ask your child’s speech-language pathologist (SLP) and classroom teacher if these suggestions are appropriate for your child and if there are additional items recommended for your child. The suggestions below can be tailored to the level where your child can succeed.