How to Help a Struggling Reader at Home

If you’re interested in learning how to help a struggling reader at home, this guide can help.

Not all students ace reading from the outset, but usually, it’s nothing to worry about; the situation resolves itself, and the reader catches up to their peers relatively quickly.

For some students experiencing early reading difficulties, however, the underlying challenges can be more complex and lead to self-doubt—especially when these young learners compare themselves to other readers in their peer groups. Unfortunately, this diminished reading confidence can make the problem worse, prompting parents and educators to reach out for more information about how to help a struggling reader at home.

Whether the issue is something as simple as needing glasses or as complex as having a learning disability, there are plenty of strategies and resources to help students overcome their underlying issues and regain confidence in their reading abilities.

Identifying Common Reading Problems and Disorders

While early reading challenges aren’t always a cause for alarm, they are certainly an indication that your student needs extra attention. The first step is to identify the cause of the problem and rule out any disorders or conditions that might be causing or contributing to it.

There are various reasons why a child might experience early reading difficulties. Here are just a handful:

Undiagnosed special needs. Some students have undiagnosed special needs that need to be addressed before their reading skills can improve.
Vision problems. Problems are common in young learners but often go unnoticed for long periods of time. If you suspect your student needs glasses, an eye exam might help resolve their vision and their reading at the same time. Also, keep in mind that vision problems can extend beyond glasses. Some children with 20/20 vision could still benefit from evaluation by a developmental optometrist to diagnose less common issues.
Dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disability that interferes with the brain’s ability to process written language, but it’s not isolated only to reading. Not all dyslexic children exhibit the same signs and symptoms, so it’s best to consult a professional, such as a neurologist, if you think this might be a concern. It can help! One 2014 study found that early intervention helped 70% of students with dyslexia become proficient readers.
ADHD is another common cognitive issue that makes it difficult to concentrate on many tasks, including reading. Like with dyslexia, many people with ADHD have surmounted their difficulties and enjoyed rich intellectual lives as a result.

Be wary of performing your own diagnoses, however. If you suspect your student has a cognitive issue like ADHD or dyslexia, beginning with your pediatrician and voicing your concerns is an excellent place to start.

Schedule Reading Practice Time

Reading skills develop differently from child to child. While mastering the basics of reading doesn’t typically require the same time commitment necessary to become a concert cellist or international chess master, it does require sustained practice.

In many cases, children’s reading confidence is directly proportionate to the time they spend practicing their reading skills. To be sure they’re putting in enough practice, record how much time they spend reading each week.

For young children who may have difficulty concentrating for more than a few minutes (which is most of them), consider breaking up the recorded reading sessions into bite-sized, 5- to 10-minute increments.

Another way to make practice time more effective is to read together. Parents and instructors can begin by reading a paragraph and then asking the students to read with them in parallel. Begin by reading one sentence and then asking the student to repeat that sentence. Increase the number of sentences as reading proficiency improves. Reading skills develop through modeling, and children have to read up to 20,000 words at a single level before they can advance to the next one. Practicing together is a great way to reach those milestones in a supportive environment.

Choose Materials That Are Reading-Level-Appropriate

People tend to learn best when focusing on a task slightly above their current skill level. If students are given material too complex for their reading level, it’s likely to diminish their reading confidence. One simple fix is to choose texts that are age-appropriate and offer only small amounts of new vocabulary.

To do this, first identify the student’s current level of reading comprehension. While there’s no fixed scale, there are a few tests you can perform to get an idea of their reading level.

Ask the student to read a passage and then pose specific questions to test their understanding, such as, “Can you tell me the main idea of the story?” or “How did you feel about what happened to the main character?”
Create a cloze test by removing words from a text, then have the student fill in the missing words.
Have students summarize or explain a story they’ve just read to you.

Next, find some texts appropriate to the student’s reading level, using their vocabulary as a guide. Visit a local library to help zero in on suitable books.

If you discover your student has fairly decent reading ability but just lacks confidence, give them materials that are at—or even slightly below—their reading level. Sometimes, mastering easy texts can build reading confidence, giving students a more resolute mindset that can later be applied to more difficult material.

Identify Specific Problem Skills

Learning to read is like building a house; the foundation must come first.

The foundation of reading is letter recognition and the sounding out of words. At this stage, it’s all about sounds and images. Early readers don’t necessarily need to understand the words at this formative stage, but they should be able to recognize letters and the sounds they make.

Once this skill is mastered, students can progress to grouping words into sentences and visualizing the story. Perfecting this skill takes time but will help verify they have basic reading comprehension at the sentence or paragraph level.

Progressive semantic improvement can help boost reading confidence and increase enthusiasm for reading practice. As students increase their practice time, their vocabulary will strengthen, and they’ll want to pursue more complex material.

By taking an incremental approach to early reading, educators can identify problem areas at each stage while simultaneously working to correct them. This step-by-step process not only helps you learn how to help a struggling reader at home but also helps you determine when it’s time to pursue more professional reading support.

Read Aloud Together

Reading out loud is another way to help students feel confident. Read aloud together before giving them the opportunity to do so silently. Having an adult help them sound out difficult words when they get stuck helps build their confidence when they start reading on their own.

One good habit is to find time to do this every day. For parent educators, this could be done right before bed or after lunch. This way, your student will get into a rhythm of regular, daily reading at clearly defined times.

Go to the Library

Students are the best judges of what they want to read. Take them to the library and let them select whatever interests them. For struggling readers, this is a great way to make reading fun.

If they aren’t showing much interest in library books, pick a few off the shelves that you think might be appropriate for their reading level and curiosity.