Helping Struggling Readers Succeed: Tips for Parents and Teachers

Reading is a fundamental skill that opens the door to learning across all subjects, but not all children develop reading skills at the same pace. For some students, reading can be a challenge, leaving them frustrated and disengaged. However, with the right strategies and support from both parents and teachers, struggling readers can overcome these challenges and become confident, capable readers.

In this post, we’ll explore practical strategies to help struggling readers succeed, both at home and in the classroom, as well as intervention activities and programs that can make a difference.

Identifying Struggling Readers

Before diving into strategies, it's important to recognize the signs of a struggling reader. Early intervention is key, so being aware of potential red flags can help. Some common signs include:

• Difficulty recognizing letters and sounds.

• Trouble decoding or "sounding out" words.

• Slow or labored reading, often with frequent mistakes.

• Limited comprehension of what they’ve read.

• Avoidance of reading tasks or a lack of interest in books.

If you notice these signs in your child or student, you can begin to take steps to address their needs.

Strategies to Support Struggling Readers

1. Break Reading Tasks into Smaller Steps

For struggling readers, tackling an entire book or even a long chapter can feel overwhelming. Break the process down into manageable chunks:

• For teachers: Assign shorter reading passages with follow-up questions to check comprehension. Provide opportunities for students to read aloud in small groups or one-on-one, where they feel less pressure.

• For parents: At home, read a few pages together, pausing frequently to ask questions about the text. Celebrate small victories, like finishing a page or understanding a new word.

Breaking reading tasks into smaller steps not only builds confidence but also helps students focus on specific skills like word recognition, fluency, and comprehension.

2. Build Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic awareness, or the ability to hear and manipulate individual sounds in words, is crucial for reading success. For students struggling with basic decoding skills, focusing on phonemic awareness can be incredibly helpful.

• Activities: Play sound games like rhyming, blending sounds (e.g., “What word do you get when you blend /c/ /a/ /t/? CAT!”), and identifying the first and last sounds in words.

• Resources: Use online phonics programs or printable flashcards that focus on phonemic awareness skills. Teachers can incorporate daily phonemic awareness drills in the classroom.

3. Encourage Repeated Reading

Fluency, or the ability to read smoothly and quickly, is often a major hurdle for struggling readers. One proven method to improve fluency is repeated reading.

• For teachers: Choose short, engaging passages or poems and have students read the same text multiple times over several days. Track their reading speed and accuracy, and encourage them to beat their previous record.

• For parents: At home, encourage your child to re-read familiar books. By reading the same text repeatedly, they’ll become more comfortable with the words, helping them read more smoothly and with greater confidence.

4. Provide Visual Supports

Some students struggle with reading because they have difficulty tracking words or following along with the text. Providing visual supports can help them stay focused.

• For teachers: Use tools like highlighter strips or bookmarks that help guide students' eyes across the page, or enlarge the text to make reading easier. Incorporate picture books or graphic novels, which offer visual cues to support comprehension.

• For parents: Try reading alongside your child, pointing to each word as you read to help them track the text. You can also have them follow along with their finger or a reading ruler to help maintain focus.

5. Foster a Growth Mindset Around Reading

Reading struggles can often lead to frustration and a negative attitude toward reading. It's important to encourage a growth mindset—the belief that abilities can improve with effort.

• For teachers: Praise effort over results. When a student makes progress, no matter how small, celebrate it. Encourage them to see mistakes as learning opportunities.

• For parents: At home, avoid saying things like “You’re not a good reader” or “This is too hard.” Instead, use phrases like, “Look how much you’ve improved!” or “Reading gets easier with practice!”

Building a growth mindset helps students see that improvement is possible and that they’re not “stuck” as poor readers.

Intervention Activities and Programs

When traditional classroom strategies aren’t enough, intervention programs can offer more targeted support. Here are some evidence-based programs and activities that can help:

1. Structured Literacy Programs

Structured Literacy is an approach that explicitly teaches students how to decode words, focusing on phonics, spelling rules, and word patterns. Some popular programs include:

• Orton-Gillingham: A highly structured approach to teaching reading that is especially effective for students with dyslexia. It focuses on multisensory learning and helps students with decoding and spelling.

• Wilson Reading System: Another multisensory program designed for students with significant reading difficulties. It systematically teaches phonics and word structure.

• Fundations: A reading program that provides phonics-based intervention and is ideal for early learners.

These programs are often used in small groups or one-on-one settings and are highly effective for struggling readers who need more explicit instruction. Teachers - your school may already offer one of these programs, but if not, research which would best suit your needs and ask your administration about purchasing the program and training for you.

2. Guided Reading

Guided reading involves working with small groups of students at their instructional reading level. This allows teachers to offer personalized support while helping students progress at their own pace.

• For teachers: Use guided reading sessions to focus on the specific skills your struggling readers need. This might mean spending extra time on decoding, building fluency, or developing comprehension strategies.

• For parents: At home, guided reading might look like selecting books that match your child’s reading level and working through the text together, discussing new words and asking comprehension questions.

3. Reading Comprehension Activities

Some struggling readers can decode words but still have trouble understanding the meaning of the text. To support comprehension:

• Classroom strategies: Use graphic organizers to help students break down the structure of a story or text. Story maps, character webs, and sequence charts can help students visualize the information.

• At home: After reading a passage or book, ask your child to retell the story in their own words. Discuss the main characters, setting, and plot to strengthen understanding.

4. Reading Tutors and Specialists

For some students, one-on-one instruction with a reading specialist or tutor can make a significant difference. These professionals use targeted interventions to address specific areas of need, such as decoding, fluency, or comprehension.

The Importance of Patience and Consistency

Helping a struggling reader succeed takes time, patience, and persistence. It’s essential for both parents and teachers to provide consistent support and encouragement. Celebrate small victories along the way and remember that every child progresses at their own pace.

When parents and teachers work together, they create a support system that gives struggling readers the tools they need to succeed. By using the strategies and interventions outlined above, you can help your child or student build the skills and confidence needed to become a successful reader.

Reading may not come easily to every child, but with the right approach, every child can learn to read—and even come to love it.