| y"> | | | | equal amounts of laundry soap and water into the |
| How many of us have to really think about what | | | | washing machine? Can you cook an egg in the |
| some of the laundry symbols mean? I know | | | | dryer if you put it on hot? Can you use the |
| there are certain symbols I have difficulties with. I | | | | top-loading washer to mix up a batch of cotton |
| know the hand wash only and the hang to dry | | | | candy? How do letters go together to create |
| but after that I get a little rusty. Perhaps I have | | | | words? These are all interesting questions, and all |
| spent too much time in hot water and then left | | | | questions that deserve an answer. So you had |
| myself "hang to dry". | | | | better have answers ready, as the consequences |
| The Denim Dilemma | | | | of not having them could be messy. |
| The symbols we see over and over are | | | | Laundry Codes and English Codes |
| transferred into our long-term memory banks. | | | | The laundry codes translate to a specific set of |
| The same is true with reading skills. If we | | | | meanings. The English alphabet code translates |
| memorize words, we can retrieve them instantly | | | | into a set of speech sounds. Speech sounds blend |
| and that causes huge difficulty in the long run. It is | | | | together into words. The English Language is |
| in fact, why we see our demonstratively bright | | | | primarily made up of 26 letters, 44 sounds and |
| children slide into struggling phase as their grade | | | | 300 rules, which control how the sounds are |
| level increases. They have in fact, memorized too | | | | interpreted. That is it and there really is not |
| much and it is not being held long enough in | | | | anymore. However, just like the laundry list if you |
| short-term memory to transfer to long term. | | | | do not know what to do with the code and set |
| Thus the words begin to fade away, just like the | | | | of rules, nothing turns out the way it is suppose |
| colour in your favourite pair of comfy blue jeans. | | | | to. Sweaters begin to stretch out of shape; pants |
| Are Laundry Softeners the Answer? | | | | shrink, T-shirts fade and reading difficulties |
| Many times the education system will, after trying | | | | continue to cause problems with spelling, |
| an intervention program that does not work, | | | | vocabulary, comprehension and self-esteem. |
| soften the material. Or as we say in the industry, | | | | Here Are Your Laundry Tips |
| "dummy down the materials". In other words, if a | | | | Reading has everything to do with speech and |
| child cannot read the material at their grade level | | | | hearing and nothing to do with vision. If it had |
| we provide them with material at a lesser grade | | | | anything to do with vision, the blind would never |
| level. This alternative works for a while but | | | | learn to read yet the blind learn to read almost as |
| certainly does not solve the problem nor is it a | | | | quickly as the sighted do. |
| solution to the underlying difficulty because as | | | | Feeling overwhelmed by it all? Not to worry, you |
| they get older, dummied down materials are | | | | are certainly not alone. The time to deal with a |
| harder to find for older kids and when they | | | | reading difficulty is the minute you think there |
| become an adult, the world does not soften its | | | | may be one. Do not let your child or other family |
| impact based on reading level. When it comes to | | | | members become another laundry room statistic. |
| reading, softeners are not the answer. | | | | Find out if there is a problem sooner than later |
| So What Do I Put in my Laundry Cupboard? | | | | and fix it before it drains them of their colour. |
| Kids are naturally curious. What happens if I put | | | | |