On-Line Resources

Reading Rockets
This site includes research articles about best practices for reading assessment and instruction, including for ELL students. Print as well as videos and webcasts. Lots of activities for children.
readingrockets.org

Colorín Colorado
This bilingual website is for parents of ELL students, ELL students, and their teachers. Note that this site is in English and Spanish, but many information booklets are available in other languages such as Somali.
colorincolorado.org

Adolescent Literacy
Information and resources for educators and parents of struggling adolescent readers and writers.  A sister site of Reading Rockets and Colorín Colorado. 
adlit.org 

The National Institute for Literacy
This organization provides leadership in literacy issues, including improving reading instruction for children and youth, as well as adults. See the sections for Birth to Adolescence.
nifl.gov

The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Read A Call to Action/Kids Count, which announces a decade-long campaign to increase by 50% the number and proportion of students who are grade-level proficient by the end of third grade.
datacenter.kidscount.org/reports/readingmatters

Florida Center for Reading Research
The FCRR site includes extensive bibliographies regarding the building blocks of reading as well as research and evaluation of reading programs. Teacher materials.
fcrr.org

The International Dyslexia Association
The Maine branch of the International Dyslexia Association partners with Vermont and New Hampshire. Resources include free screening tests, current research, announcements of regional conferences, and Maine tutor listings.  The following website will lead you to Maine information.
interdys.org

Learning Disabilities Online
The bilingual site, focused of learning disabilities and ADHD, offers information to parents and children as well as educators.  In addition to a question-and-answer format with a child and adolescent psychologist, a Special Education attorney, and a technical specialist, other resources include bibliographies, lists of organizations and state services including Maine.
ldonline.org

MAINE Resources

Learning Disabilities Association of Maine
This Maine organization provides support and information, including an annual conference, to parents and educators of children with many types of learning disabilities including dyslexia.
www.ldame.org.

Maine Parents Federation
This statewide nonprofit organization provides information, advocacy, education, and training to parents and professionals to benefit all Maine children.
mpf.org

Southern Maine Parent Awareness
This nonprofit group serves York and Cumberland counties in Maine. It helps parents prepare for IEP/Individualized Education Plan meetings and also offers workshops on special topics.
somepa.org

Masonic Children’s Learning Centers
The Centers in Portland and Bangor provide free one-to-one tutoring for children with diagnosed dyslexia. See this site to connect to the Maine centers in Portland and Bangor.
childrenslearningcenters.org 

Raising Readers
This ten-year-old non-profit promotes reading aloud to children in Maine, ages birth to five years. New books are given to children through family practice and pediatric providers throughout the state.  The site promotes helping children enjoy reading and language by exposing them to 'colorful, wonderful' books.  Information for parents about reading to children are written in English, Somali, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Spanish.  There are also resources for childhood educators and healthcare providers.
raisingreaders.org

Maine Reads
Established in 2004 and spearheaded by First Lady Karen Baldacci, Maine Reads provides programs to encourage literacy and celebrate Maine's literary heritage. Additionally, the organization provides books to Maine kindergarten students and collaborates with other literacy agencies throughout the state.
www.mainereads.org

Home-Tutoring Options 

The Internet is literally a worldwide resource for teaching plans and student materials targeted to struggling readers. Some programs are free; others are commercial. Parents should carefully use their knowledge of science-based reading research to evaluate such options. Many of the websites linked here offer good, science-based suggestions to help prepare your pre-school child for beginning to learn to read as well as how to help a struggling reader.