The following is a guest post from Deme Clainos.

Reading is the foundation for all other learning, making it crucial for every child to learn how to read. But learning how to read is not a simple process, especially for children with special needs. It can be a struggle to understand basic phonic concepts before moving into overall reading comprehension. Using individualized strategies, special needs children can make progress in reading and language skills.

Strategies to Help Children with Special Needs Learn to Read

1.  Learning Preference.  One of the first things parents should focus on is figuring out their child’s individual learning preferences. For example, some children are visual learners, while others do better with hands-on projects or through spoken instruction.

Children with Down syndrome, autism, Asperger syndrome and other special needs are often visual learners. They tend to remember words as a picture first and then begin to figure out how the letters and sounds work together to make up the word.

Although it may take time to figure out, knowing a child’s learning style can help bring out strengths and personal interests.

2.  What is your child most passionate about? Reading material should focus exclusively on your child’s biggest interests. Learning to read is challenging enough, but when the topic isn’t interesting it makes it even harder.

3.  Lots of Books.  Just as their mainstream peers would have plenty of books around, children with special needs should have lots of books even before they are able to read. It’s important to provide opportunity, no matter how long it takes them to become a reader.

But if the books aren’t simple enough, consider making your own books that incorporate sight words with personalized details and photos. At first, limit the number of words to 10 to 15 and build from there. For example, you could create a book about their favorite foods that includes pictures and short simple sentences on each page. It might say something like, “I like apples. I like cookies. I like pizza.” The books you create could be about favorite family members, friends, pets, sports and other activities.

4.  Keep it Short.  For those who are struggling to read, it’s important to break lessons down into just a few words and build from there. Create flash cards in sets of five and continue to add to the deck as reading skills progress. Read the words aloud at first until your child is able to read them on their own. Show the cards three or four times each time you bring them out. Do it in short, five-minute doses to help keep boredom at bay.

5.  Technology.  Using an online reading program like StudyDog lets the child learn at his or her own pace. The program adjusts to unique learning needs by providing extra support in areas of weakness. StudyDog starts with alphabetic awareness and guides each child through to reading comprehension. The reading software uses fun characters that are easy to understand and make kids want to return for more.

StudyDog is offering an exclusive discount to The Happy Housewife readers.  Go to this link and input the promo code HHL20H1 for  20 percent off a one year subscription. The code is valid through the end of September.

Although it might take added time and patience to help a child with special needs learn to read, it’s worth the extra effort. Without it they will struggle in other learning areas. Once they have gained basic reading and comprehension skills, new opportunities will open up on a personal and academic level.

Deme Clainos is the CEO and founder of StudyDog, an innovative online reading program for elementary school students. StudyDog represents a new wave of reading software where technology is harnessed to help a critical area, detecting and fixing reading problems with young children, often before the problems are noticed. The creation of StudyDog has helped more than 6 million children master reading basics.

The following is a post from contributing writer Stef.

To reward reading or not to reward reading … that is the homeschool mom’s question.

My favorite (public) school teacher was my 3rd grade teacher.  She read The Chronicles of Narnia series to us the entire year.  We all gathered on overstuffed pillows at the foot of her rocking chair.  This teacher also rewarded students at the end-of-the-year with a brown lunch bag full of giant gumballs for each book read.

I’ve loved reading since 3rd grade.  Rewarded or not, I couldn’t check out books from the school library fast enough.  I want my children to have this same appetite for great stories.

My son was introduced to the Pizza Hut Book It Rewards (they include homeschoolers).  It was tons of fun for all of us, but the program only lasts a few months.  It’s no surprise that his desire to read slowly died when we stopped hitting the library as often for personal pan pizzas.

I decided to offer our own way to reward reading (unassigned reading from the curriculum).

For every 5 chapter books completed the boy can spend an hour at the Lego Creation Center (it’s free).

The most important part of your children’s desire to read falls on the parents.  While we do reward reading, we also read ourselves! If we’re not setting the example, why would our kids want to read?  We can “bribe” them to read but it will never last.  If we plop down and rely on the television to entertain us (or them), reading will not be of any interest.  If we only expect our children to read during homeschool time, they’ll turn that off after school.  If we’re not making books available in the house, they won’t read.

I had to schedule the library on our calendar to make sure we got there.  We found an age appropriate series to read together.  We watched one Harry Potter movie for my son to shout, “Books are so much better!”   Now my son reads for pleasure in his room or in the car.

7 Easy Reading Reward Ideas

1. Time – Spend quality time together.  Go on a “date” or out for special dessert.  Just you and the reader.
2. Small item – Grab a small Lego kit, book, or art supplies as a reward for a certain number of books completed. (Set the number of books first.)
3. Tech time – Offer 30 or 60 minutes of computer, Wii, or other electronic time — without siblings.
4. No homework – Lighten a Friday of school work, but do not rush to make-up Monday.
5. Redbox rental – It’s only $1 to rent from Redbox.  Throw in some popcorn for fun.
6. Something special – Think of something creative and fun! Let them do school in their pajamas,  choose their lunch,  have a play date, eat breakfast for dinner, etc.
7. Join a Club – Join an online reading club like The Magic Tree House!  Earn passport stamps and play games as a reward.

Be sure to keep a record of the books your children read.  It’s great for your end-of-the-year homeschool portfolio/evaluation.

Want to include everyone?  Read my tips: Make Reading a Family Thing.