Wellington-Alexander Center

09/24/2026

When a child reads horse as house, the mistake is easy to notice.

But the more important question is: why did it happen?

Reading errors can give us valuable clues about how a child is processing speech sounds, connecting sounds to letters, and approaching unfamiliar words.

Sometimes, guessing is the strategy we see on the surface.

The underlying difficulty may be something deeper.

At Wellington-Alexander Center, we look beyond the error to understand what a child’s reading behavior is telling us about the skills underneath it.

Save this for the next time a reading mistake makes you wonder, “What is really happening here?”

09/22/2026

They know what they want to say.

They can picture it. They can describe it. They may even tell you what it does.

But the word just won’t come.

Word retrieval is our ability to quickly access and pull the right word from our mental “dictionary.” And when that process isn’t efficient, you may hear lots of “thingy,” “you know…,” or descriptions instead of the actual word.

Word retrieval difficulties do not automatically mean a child has dyslexia. But they can be an important clue when we’re looking at the bigger picture of language and literacy development.

Sometimes, to understand what’s happening with reading, we have to look beyond the letters.

Save this post if it reminds you of a child you know.

Wellington-Alexander Center in Scottsdale, Arizona specializes in dyslexia, language, literacy, and learning.

09/21/2026

The reason behind ‘pass me that thingy’ isn’t what most parents think.

Those small pauses tell us something very specific about how the brain connects spoken language to reading. Full visual breakdown drops tomorrow

09/21/2026

Dyslexia is more than difficulty reading words.

Some of the earliest signs can show up in spoken language, memory, and the way a child processes sounds and words, long before anyone notices a problem with reading.

These signs don’t automatically mean a child has dyslexia. But when several show up together, they may be worth a closer look.

Look beyond the letters. Sometimes the clues are hiding underneath.

09/17/2026

A child can be bright, curious, and articulate and still struggle to learn to read.

When reading is difficult, the goal isn’t simply to practice harder. It’s to understand why reading is difficult and identify the underlying skills that need support.

At Wellington-Alexander Center, we take a bottom-up approach, looking closely at the foundational language and processing skills that support successful reading and spelling. Our multidisciplinary team works together to understand the whole child and identify where the breakdown is occurring so intervention can target the skills each child actually needs.

Understanding the why is where effective intervention begins.

09/17/2026

09/16/2021

Hello everyone! Just wanted to share an amazing virtual training opportunity. On Saturday, September 25, the Arizona Branch of IDA is hosting a Learning and Literacy virtual Symposium. Click the link below for discounted pricing. The symposium will also provide opportunities to connect with other parents and educators! Hope to connect with you during this event!

bit.ly/Wellington-AlexanderCenter

Get tickets to Arizona IDA, taking place 09/25/2021. Hopin is your source for engaging events and experiences.

06/10/2021

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor on parenting a child with dyslexia: "If you have kids who are struggling with dyslexia, the greatest gift you can give them is the sense that nothing is unattainable. With dyslexia comes a very great gift, which is the way that your mind can think creatively." -Orlando Bloom

06/08/2021

06/03/2021

This amazing mama wrote a great article that highlights the importance of early identification of dyslexia. It's worth a read!

A mother describes the warning signs for dyslexia in her daughter that she didn't see clearly. She also shares the life-changing resources that helped her understand what dyslexia is and how to get her daughter the support she needed to thrive.