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My Middle Schooler is Struggling to Read. Now What?

Madeline Waters • December 29, 2025

It can be incredibly disheartening to watch your middle schooler struggle with reading. You’re not alone—many parents are in the same boat. According to recent data, a significant number of 8th graders across the country are not reading at a proficient level. In fact, national assessments show that about two-thirds of 8th graders fall short of this crucial milestone.


The frustration is compounded by the fact that so many tools designed to build foundational reading skills are geared towards young children. Imagine being a middle schooler and being handed a book with stories like "See Jack Run." It's not just ineffective; it's patronizing. Older students need interventions that respect their maturity while addressing their unique challenges.


So, what do older students need when it comes to building literacy skills?


1. High-Interest, Age-Appropriate Content:

Older students benefit from reading materials that respect their maturity and intelligence. They’re more likely to engage with texts that are relevant and interesting to them. It’s essential to provide a variety of reading material so that students can choose topics that intrigue them. Having some choice over what they read can significantly increase their motivation and engagement.


2. Fluency Practice:

Fluency is a critical component of reading proficiency. The theory of automaticity suggests that students need to develop fluency to free up cognitive load for comprehending the text. Encourage your middle schooler to read aloud regularly, and to read the same text multiple times. This practice helps improve their rate, accuracy, and expression, making reading a more enjoyable and less laborious task.


3. Vocabulary Building:

A robust vocabulary is essential for reading comprehension. Older students can benefit from reading diverse materials and using tools like flashcards or vocabulary apps. Encourage them to record words they don’t know and sketch them out or use them in sentences.


4. Comprehension Strategies:

Teaching strategies like summarizing, questioning, and predicting can help improve comprehension. Discussing books and articles together can also enhance understanding and retention. Graphic organizers can be helpful tools for visualizing and organizing information, making it easier for students to grasp complex concepts.


5. Writing Integration:

Writing about what they read can help solidify comprehension and analytical skills. Encourage your child to keep a journal where they summarize what they’ve read, reflect on it, and connect it to their own experiences. Additionally, have them write predictions about what they think will happen next in the story or text. This exercise can enhance their engagement and critical thinking skills.


6. Use of Technology:

Leverage educational technology that offers personalized learning experiences. Apps and software designed for older students can adapt to their level and pace, providing targeted practice where they need it most.


7. Encouragement and Patience:

Building reading skills takes time and effort, especially for older students who may have struggled for years. Offer consistent encouragement and celebrate small victories to keep their motivation high. Setting measurable goals and tracking progress towards those goals can be very motivating. This allows students to see their success and understand that their efforts are paying off.


For parents looking for an effective tool to help their middle schoolers improve their reading skills, One Minute Reader is an excellent choice. The program’s nonfiction, high-interest content caters to learners of all ages, avoiding childish content and frameworks that can be discouraging for older students. With a variety of topics to choose from, it empowers students to select materials that interest them. One Minute Reader provides crucial fluency practice, vocabulary support, and comprehension checks, ensuring a comprehensive literacy approach. Furthermore, its progress tracking features, including graphs and reports, help students visualize their improvements, fostering a sense of achievement and motivating continued effort. This makes One Minute Reader an ideal resource for guiding students of all ages toward reading success.


Highlighted Posts

Get our Child Reading at Grade Level with One Minute Reader
By Madeline Waters February 9, 2026
Boost your child’s reading skills and confidence with One Minute Reader. This evidence-based reading program helps kids read at grade level through engaging nonfiction, fluency practice, and progress tracking—perfect for parents seeking proven reading intervention at home.
By Anne Hauth January 13, 2026
Valentine’s Day, a holiday about love, seems to instead fill a large portion of the population with dread. If romance isn’t your thing, you feel doomed. If you’re unpartnered, you feel left out. If you’re a teacher, you’re bracing yourself for a day of mayhem and over-sugared students. And if you’re a parent of school-aged children, your living space is suddenly littered with dozens of valentines your children need to address. Does anyone actually love this holiday? Perhaps those of us working with struggling readers can reclaim it. After all, the written word is central to many of the ways we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Here are some Valentine’s Day-themed literacy ideas parents can do with their kids leading up to the holiday: Have kids write a “love letter” to their favorite book or One Minute Reader story. In the letter, they should explore how the book/story relates to their own life and why it is meaningful to them. Require kids to use their school spelling words, challenging vocabulary words, or words from One Minute Reader stories as they write valentines to friends and family. Have kids use candy conversation hearts as starting points for thinking about and creating sentences. For example, how could a heart that says “Be Mine” be turned into a question or a declarative sentence? Explore the genre of poetry and teach kids about simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, and rhyme. You could even read a few Shakespearean Sonnets together—it’s never too early! Allow kids to eat a treat and then think of five or more adjectives to describe it. The Internet is full of Valentine’s Day-themed printables, worksheets, and projects , such as word finds and puzzles. Or, design your own incorporating the words your students are currently studying. And of course, read plenty of feel-good and Valentine’s Day-themed books aloud to your kids, followed by meaningful discussion about the books' vocabulary and themes. We can also encourage parents to reframe how they think about all the valentines littering their homes, waiting to be addressed. Are they a tedious chore? Or do they provide SO MUCH reading and writing practice? (I’ll admit, I might need this reminder.) If you have any ideas to add to our list, we’d love to hear them. We’ll be thinking of you and your kids with great admiration leading up to Valentine's Day, and always!
By Anne Hauth December 30, 2025
Regardless of where kids are on their reading journey, there are countless ways to incorporate reading into cozy days at home this winter. Here are some easy ideas for kids to try at home over winter break and beyond! Have kids think of the trusted friends, family members, or adults in their lives who can read, and encourage them to read aloud with these people as often as possible. Depending on their reading ability, they can simply listen to a book read aloud, or they can take turns reading and being read to. Have the kids fill out this Read-Aloud Log every time someone reads to them or every time they read to someone. You could offer a small reward for completing this activity every day of winter break (or every day during a predetermined time period). Reading aloud to their pets, stuffed animals, or even to themselves counts too! Set up reading challenges in which kids set goals and record their minutes spent reading or the number of books they read. Have kids color and decorate these winter-themed bookmarks to make reading even more fun. Encourage kids to borrow books from the library and have a big pile to choose from on cozy winter days. See this Cozy Wintertime Book List for book ideas. Refer to our 7 Ways to Create a Cozy Reading Environment document to create an ideal reading space. Lend or gift kids the first book in a series that’s likely to hook them. Sometimes all it takes is the right series to turn a reluctant reader into a bookworm! Incorporate reading time into other fun activities. For example, while making dinner or baking holiday treats, kids can read the recipes and write out the grocery lists. Create a snowflake book wall. Print out this Snowflake Wall Template , and have kids fill out a snowflake each time they finish a book. Then, have them tape the snowflake to the wall. Encourage kids to find ways to read while playing favorite games or while spending time on electronic devices. While playing games, have them read the game instructions aloud. While watching shows, have them turn on and read the subtitles. Have kids practice reading and writing while completing this fun Winter Scavenger Hunt . They’ll get some fresh air too! Refer to this Send Some Cheer printable for addresses to places where kids can send letters. Have them practice their writing skills and spread kindness by writing to kids in hospitals, senior citizens, refugee children, and more. Set up daily One Minute Reader time, and see literacy progress in just minutes! This research-proven, parent-trusted program is free for 7 days and just $8/month after that. Your kids will have so much fun beating their goals, they won't want to stop. Download the Splat-o-Nym vocabulary iPad app , which keeps kids entertained while boosting their vocabulary. Kids can try a free version of this game and purchase to get the full experience. Note that this app is only available for iPads, not smartphones or other devices. Add your own ideas to this list! Our hope is for all kids to experience the joy of reading this winter season and always.
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