Intervention
DSF Clever Kids
Reading Self-Concept Intervention (designed for children in grades 3-8) by DSF
Clever Kids is a nine-week, small-group program delivered by psychologists and designed to support the wellbeing and self-concept of children with learning difficulties. Research suggests that children with learning difficulties are at risk of developing low self-esteem, which can lead to unhelpful coping-behaviours during difficult tasks (such as avoidance).
Clever Kids covers: self-awareness, effective coping strategies, goal setting, problem solving, managing stress, positive thinking, and assertiveness.
Courageous Readers
Reading Anxiety Intervention (for children with reading difficulties) by Black Dog Institute
Courageous readers is a digital intervention that aims to support children experiencing both reading difficulties and anxiety. It combines evidence-based reading support with strategies drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy, helping children develop reading skills while learning to recognise and manage anxious thoughts and feelings. Delivered through an accessible digital format, the program is designed to provide practical tools for children, families, and educators and to explore whether addressing reading and emotional wellbeing together can improve outcomes. The research will help inform more integrated approaches to supporting children’s learning and mental health.
Intervention is designed to actively change an underlying skill or ability, such as reading self-concept or anxiety. Evidence‑based intervention means using programs and strategies that have been tested in research, so the instruction we deliver and the outcomes we track are effective, replicable and genuinely beneficial.
Below we advocate for the following evidence-based reading interventions: