Child Reading Below Grade Level? Steps to Take and Pitfalls to Avoid
Every child learns at their own pace, and when it comes to reading, some may face challenges that put them below their grade level. As a concerned parent, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to support your child’s reading development. As kids fall behind in reading, every subject area is impacted eventually. Here are some things to consider to help get your child back on grade level and reading confidently:
Steps to Take if Your Child is Reading Below Grade Level:
A majority of children are not reading proficiently at grade level. While a variety of factors contribute to these struggles with reading, there are a few things you can do to help keep your child motivated and excited about trying to read (and weed out issues from the root cause).
#1: Find the places where reading is enjoyable for your child.
One of the first steps in helping your child improve their reading skills is to create a positive reading environment. This means finding books and materials that align with their interests and preferences. Whether it’s comic books, graphic novels, or stories about their favorite animals, providing engaging content can ignite their passion for reading.
Additionally, consider incorporating regular trips to the library or bookstores. Let your child choose books that pique their curiosity. This autonomy fosters a sense of ownership and enthusiasm for reading.
#2: Play games and work in other ways to build reading skills.
Learning doesn’t have to be confined to textbooks. Incorporating games and interactive activities can make the process enjoyable and effective. Word games, puzzles, and even educational apps can help reinforce vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Furthermore, dedicating time for shared reading experiences can be invaluable. Taking turns reading aloud can boost their confidence and fluency. It also provides an opportunity for you to address any stumbling blocks they may encounter.
#3: Evaluate cognitive skills to find the reason for their issues with reading.
Sometimes, reading challenges may stem from underlying cognitive difficulties (and it may not be what you think). Weaknesses in visual processing, auditory processing, logic, thinking speed, attention, and memory can all have a direct impact on your child’s ability to read fluently and confidently.
If you go about supporting your child’s reading skills without the knowledge of which cognitive skills are really causing their struggles, you’re shooting in the dark. LearningRx can provide cognitive testing that shines a light on exactly where your child’s areas of struggles are so you can provide a clear path forward to build confidence.
Reading Pitfalls to Avoid if Your Child is Reading Below Grade Level:
These reading myths and beliefs are incredibly common, but holding onto them may leave your child to fall further behind instead of helping them gain ground.
- Believing that “just reading to your child” is enough to help them catch up and learn to read confidently. While reading aloud is a crucial component of literacy development, it’s not the sole solution for a child reading below grade level. You need to have a root cause approach that identifies their weak areas and targets them.
- Just “giving it time” and waiting for reading to click. Ignoring persistent reading difficulties can lead to frustration and hinder overall academic progress. Early intervention and targeted strategies can make a significant difference in your child’s reading journey.
- Switching curriculum, providing accommodations, or bringing in more tutors who are just re-teaching the same content. It’s crucial to identify the specific challenges your child faces and seek out interventions that target those areas, rather than just moving your child through to the next level.
Evidence-Based Reading Support for Struggling Readers
At LearningRx, we’ve worked with thousands of struggling readers to identify the reason for their struggles and target those weak skills. In a research study, struggling readers who completed our reading program gained an average of 4.1 years in reading skills in only 24 weeks!*
What would this kind of boost mean for your child who is reading below grade level?
Greater confidence? Less frustration? More success in school?
If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today to schedule a cognitive skills assessment where we can help you get to the root cause of your child’s struggles with reading.
*Results based on past clients. Outcomes may vary.
