English is the main medium of instruction in Singapore’s preschools. However, many young children with learning needs often face challenges in learning to read, write and spell. Despite attending regular preschool and English enrichment classes, these children often exhibit avoidance, inattention, and anxiety during reading activities both at school and home.

Possible variables affecting these struggles include inappropriate reading materials, anxiety, poor visual attention to print, weak working memory and vocabulary, low motivation, limited exposure to books, and English not being their first language.

This workshop will focus on how to support these children in engaging with print. It will highlight the application of an eclectic approach that emphasizes positive engagement, visual discrimination skills, visual memory, and motivation. It will demonstrate appropriate reading strategies to help their foundational reading skills. It will also present the use of developed physical and digital materials to engage them to reading.

This workshop will be a hands-on look at how graded readers are written and how ideas become books. Writing compelling graded readers requires more than just simplifying language—it involves thoughtful design, creative storytelling, and a deep understanding of learner needs. This interactive workshop will guide participants through the entire process of writing graded readers, from concept development to final draft. We will explore how to choose topics that engage learners, balance linguistic control with natural language, and build progression across levels. Participants will examine techniques for adapting existing texts and crafting original stories, incorporating CEFR-aligned vocabulary and grammar. Special attention will be given to voice, pacing and chapter structure among other elements. The session will also cover tools for planning, drafting, and editing. Whether you're new to writing or looking to refine your approach, this workshop offers practical strategies and inspiration to help you create effective, enjoyable graded readers.