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Picture this: Your child just got home from school. You tell him to go read for 20 minutes while you get dinner ready. He grabs a book and a spot on the couch, and you smile as you hear the pages turn. When it’s time to eat you ask, “What did you read about?” Your child hesitates, fumbling to form an answer. Suddenly, you wonder—was he even reading? You start to worry: Is he struggling with reading? How can you make sure he’s actually practicing when you don’t have time to supervise every reading session?

Help your child overcome reading struggles and build confidence with proven strategies like reading together, repeated reading, and progress tracking.

If your child was struggling with reading, their teacher would let you know, right? Not always. Sometimes even the best teachers will fail to notice a struggling reader. Often, an undetected struggling reader is a student who behaves well in class and seems to focus quietly during independent reading time. The student’s grades might be decent and their standardized test scores in reading, while not as high as you might hope, are not overly concerning yet. A lower test score could be explained away as a fluke or just a bad day. Especially in lower grades, a bright student can often compensate for reading struggles by guessing and using context clues. During independent reading time, they know how to make it look like they’re reading when they’re not. This is often the type of student who is struggling more than they let on, and whom a busy teacher may not notice. Thankfully, as a parent, there are some key signs you can watch for. If you suspect your child might be struggling with reading, look for the following: 1. Avoiding Reading Struggling readers would rather not spend their time reading. If your child seems uninterested in books or frequently has an excuse such as “I’m too tired” or “I don’t feel like it,” this could be a sign that reading is challenging for them. Also notice if they’re hesitant to read aloud. 2. Difficulty With Phonics and Pronunciation If you notice that your child frequently mispronounces words when reading age-appropriate material aloud, they might be behind in phonics. Next time you notice them mispronouncing a word, ask them to sound it out for you. If they struggle to decode (sound out) the word, they may have gaps in their phonics knowledge that make reading difficult. 3. Substituting Words When a child has trouble decoding words, they’ll sometimes replace them with different words that look or sound similar. Notice if they tend to replace a harder-to-decode words, like “house,” with easier synonyms, like “home.” 4. Skipping Words Similarly, pay attention to whether your child tends to quickly skip past hard-to-pronounce words, hoping you won’t notice. Especially as texts become more challenging with a higher number of multisyllabic words, struggling readers often won’t attempt these difficult words. 5. Frequent Guessing Does your child frequently guess at words without trying to sound them out? Rather than using their skills to decode, many struggling readers rely on context to guess. Some kids become so good at guessing that their reading difficulties go undetected for years. 6. Reading Slowly When a fluent reader reads aloud, they sound like they do when they’re speaking. Struggling readers tend to read slowly, haltingly, and lack expression. They also take longer than their peers to get through texts when reading silently. 7. Trouble With Comprehension When your child finishes reading a passage of text, are they able to explain to you what the text was about? If the answer is no, comprehension could be an issue. Often, struggling readers are working so hard to decode the text that they don’t have the capacity to comprehend it at the same time. They may need to read the same text over and over again before they’re able to understand it. 8. Spelling Mistakes Spelling and phonics go hand in hand. If your child struggles to spell most words—especially straightforward, phonetically easy words—it is often a sign that they do not have an adequate grasp on phonics patterns and rules. 9. Writing Struggles Reading and writing are also closely connected. If your child struggles with reading, chances are they won’t be eager to write. Notice if they struggle to put their thoughts into words on paper, if they tend to write the bare minimum on assignments, and if their writing is full of spelling mistakes. 10. Mixing Up Letters Many kids will confuse visually similar letters, like b and d, as they are first learning to read. If you notice that your child struggles with this year after year, however, it could be a sign of dyslexia or other reading challenges. 11. Difficulty With Written Instructions Consider a child who aces all the problems on their math worksheet except for the word problems. Reading difficulties make it hard for kids to understand the instructions on their assignments. Watch for this as you help with homework. If your child needs you to explain the assignment or to read the problem to them, it might be because they’re struggling to read it on their own. 12. Physical Signs of Stress Some kids who struggle with reading will show physical signs of discomfort. They may squint, rub their eyes, fidget, or seem tense. This could be related to tracking or vision problems, which make reading difficult. It could also indicate frustration with the task of reading itself. 13. Inconsistency Notice if your child can read certain texts at their level but not others. Often, kids will sound fluent reading books they’ve read many times before, or they’ll be able to easily read text that is supported by pictures and repetition. But they need to be able to read unfamiliar, unpracticed text too. Proficient readers should be able to consistently read text at their level that they’ve never seen before. 14. Lack of Progress Keep tabs on whether your child’s reading skills are improving over time. If they seem stuck at the same level for a long period, they may need additional help. Concepts and vocabulary become increasingly difficult from grade to grade. Steady progress in reading is important, and intervention when they seem to have plateaued can keep your child from falling behind. 15. Difficulty With Foreign Languages Learning a foreign language is difficult for most people, but struggling readers will have an especially hard time. Languages like Spanish, for example, are highly phonetic. Kids who have a good grasp of phonics will often be able to decode words in these languages even before they’ve learned the meanings of the words. Kids who lack phonics skills will not be able to do this. Without the ability to rely on context clues, decoding words in foreign languages will be extremely difficult. Note that many struggling readers will have some of these signs but not all of them. If you suspect your child might be struggling with reading, pay attention to your instincts. Inquire about extra support at school, and work with them at home if possible. For kids reading at a first through fifth-grade level, One Minute Reader is a great tool for building fluency. If you’re concerned dyslexia might be the culprit, the International Dyslexia Association is a helpful resource that includes a free screener .

Did you know that children who engage in literacy activities with their families tend to perform better on standardized tests? Research indicates that children with parents who participate in family literacy activities score about 10 points higher on standardized reading tests compared to those whose parents do not engage in such activities​ ( National Literacy Directory )​. This family involvement creates a supportive environment that fosters a love for learning and builds crucial skills that children carry with them into the classroom. So, how can you as a parent integrate literacy activities into your family routine? Here are some engaging and creative ideas to help you get started. 1. Storytime Rituals: Make storytime a cherished part of your daily routine. Whether it's a bedtime story or a morning read-aloud session, setting aside dedicated time for reading can make a big difference. Choose a variety of books to keep it exciting—mix in classic tales, adventure stories, and even nonfiction to expand your child's horizons. 2. Book Club: Start a family book club where everyone reads the same book and then gathers to discuss it. This not only encourages reading but also develops critical thinking and communication skills. You can choose books that cater to different age groups and have themed discussions, complete with snacks and fun activities related to the book. 3. The Sentence Game: Turn storytelling into an interactive activity. Create your own stories as a family, with each member taking turns to add a sentence. This can be a hilarious and creative way to spend time together, and it also encourages imagination and narrative skills. 4. Literacy Games: Incorporate literacy into playtime with fun games. Scrabble, Boggle, and word searches are great for building vocabulary and spelling skills. You can also create your own literacy-based games, like a scavenger hunt where children have to find items that start with a specific letter. 5. Blogging: Encourage your child to write regularly by starting a family journal or blog. Each member can contribute entries about their day, stories, or even creative pieces like poems and short stories. This practice not only enhances writing skills but also serves as a wonderful keepsake of family memories. 6. Library Visits: Make regular trips to the library a part of your routine. Libraries offer a treasure trove of resources, from books and audiobooks to interactive storytimes and educational programs. Let your child explore different genres and choose books that interest them to foster a love for reading. 7. Educational Apps and Programs: In today’s digital age, there are numerous apps and programs designed to boost literacy skills. Programs like One Minute Reader can be seamlessly integrated into your daily schedule, providing engaging reading activities that build fluency and comprehension in short, manageable sessions. Ask your child to share what they learned with the whole family. 8. Meal Preparation: Involve your child in writing grocery lists based on meal plans, reading recipes aloud, gathering ingredients, and following cooking steps. At the store, they can read the list and check off items, making shopping an educational scavenger hunt. 9. Pen Pal Program: Encourage your child to write letters to relatives or friends, acting as pen pals. This can improve their writing skills and build a deeper connection with family members. Receiving letters in return can also be a delightful experience that motivates them to keep writing. Incorporating literacy activities into your family’s daily life doesn’t have to be daunting. With a little creativity and commitment, you can create a nurturing environment that promotes learning and academic success. By making literacy a fun and integral part of your routine, you're not only helping your child excel in school but also fostering a lifelong love for reading and learning. So, grab a book, gather the family, and embark on this enriching journey together!

Your struggling readers have likely asked themselves, or you, “Why is reading hard for me?” Sometimes, there is not a clear reason. With a little extra help, many struggling readers are simply able to crack the code and catch up. Other times, there is a clear reason: For millions of people, it’s dyslexia. Unfortunately, many individuals with dyslexia remain undiagnosed and have a more difficult time catching up to their peers. Dyslexia is the most common learning disability in the country, affecting about 1 in 10 individuals. People with dyslexia have normal IQs, but differences in their brains make reading much harder for them. The dyslexic brain has a more difficult time understanding how letters and letter combinations represent sounds, and how letters are combined to form syllables and words. The symptoms of this learning disability include trouble with decoding, spelling, rhyming, and phonological awareness. If you have a child who may fit this criteria, visit the International Dyslexia Association page for self-assessment tools that provide information about diagnosing dyslexia in specific age groups. Humiliation about their learning struggles often causes students with dyslexia to retreat from class participation, lose confidence in their abilities, and underperform in school. Many go on to struggle in other key areas of their lives. To break this cycle, a greater understanding of dyslexia is essential. Teachers must be trained to identify dyslexia early on and provide appropriate intervention. When students with dyslexia receive the right kind of support, they are just as capable of performing well in school as their peers. Students who get additional support at home are more likely to reach their literacy goals more quickly. Sally Shaywitz, renowned dyslexia researcher and author of Overcoming Dyslexia , states that students with dyslexia typically need intensive, individualized instruction with feedback, guidance, and ongoing assessment in phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading fluency. Instructional programs should emphasize these core elements as well as building vocabulary and increasing comprehension. Reading researchers, including Shaywitz, recommend Read Naturally programs for providing this type of instruction. Read Naturally is the parent company of One Minute Reader. One Minute Reader was adapted from Read Naturally programs so that kids could use an effective reading tool independently at home. One Minute Reader and Read Naturally programs build phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension through high-interest nonfiction stories. The strategy used in these programs was designed to help students build confidence and motivation through self monitoring of progress. One Minute Reader and Read Naturally programs have helped countless students with dyslexia become competent readers. Dyslexia is a clear barrier to learning to read, but One Minute Reader can provide a clear pathway around this barrier. It's an ideal program to use at home with kids who need extra help becoming competent readers. Try it out for a free week! After that, it's only $8/month.