Indicators that your child may be struggling with reading
Does your child approach reading with frustration? Are they resistant to reading on their own? This could be a sign that they’re struggling with reading OR their literacy foundation is not strong. Here are 5 signs that your child may be struggling with reading and what you can do to support them.
5 Signs your child may be struggling with reading:
Difficulty sounding out words: If your child struggles to decode words, has difficulty recognizing familiar words, or relies on memorization rather than sounding out words.
Lack of fluency: If your child reads slowly and without expression or reads in a choppy or hesitant manner.
Poor comprehension: If your child has trouble understanding what they read, answering questions about the text, or making connections between the text and their own experiences.
Avoidance of reading: If your child avoids reading, or only reads when required to do so.
Frustration and low self-esteem: If your child becomes frustrated with reading and expresses negative feelings or a lack of confidence in their reading abilities.
The good news is that there is a lot that can be done to support a struggling reader. Here are 10 things you can do to support your child and build their literacy skills.
8 ways to support a struggling reader:
Provide a supportive environment: Create a positive and supportive reading environment where the child feels comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. Encourage their efforts and celebrate their progress.
Read together for enjoyment: Read with them regularly and model good reading habits. Foster a love for reading.
Use decodable books: Provide them with appropriate reading materials, including decodable books that align with phonics skills. Decodable readers enable a child to ‘sound out,’ rather than guess, unknown words, developing strong reading habits that will lead to more successful independent reading.
Phonics instruction: Focus on explicit phonics instruction. Teach them the relationship between letters and their sounds. Practice the letter sound equation for each letter - a - apple - /a/
Sight word practice: Help them develop a sight word vocabulary by practicing high-frequency words that appear frequently in texts. Use flashcards, games, and other interactive activities to make sight word practice engaging.
Vocabulary development: Expand their vocabulary by introducing new words and discussing their meanings.
Consistent practice: Encourage regular reading practice at an appropriate level. Consistency and repetition will reinforce skills and promote improvement over time.
Reading interventions: Consider implementing reading interventions or seeking support from a reading specialist or literacy tutor. These professionals can provide targeted instruction and interventions to address your child's specific reading difficulties. We recommend Orton-Gillingham certified instructors.
A strong literacy foundation has a profound and lasting impact on a child's overall development and future success.
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