First grade is often where your child’s reading foundation is developed thoroughly. This is an essential grade for your child to establish their reading level and progress. However, sometimes children might struggle as they try to advance their reading skills. If you find that your child is struggling with reading, you can help them by trying these 1st grade reading activities for struggling readers.

What reading skills should my 1st grader have?

Your first grader is definitely a full-fledged reader now! They already have many reading skills that they are continuing to improve and also acquiring new reading skills.

By the end of first grade, your child will have learned 150 sight words. They also should be familiar with many one syllable words and high-frequency words.

In first grade, they should be able to understand the basic structure and features of a sentence.

By now, they are also able to talk about what they have been reading and be able to answer content questions. Your child should also be able to understand the differences between fiction and non-fiction books and texts.

If you find that your child is struggling with any of these reading skills, they might need some more practice or intervention to help them get to their appropriate reading level.

How often should my 1st grader be reading? 

When it comes to practicing their reading skills, first graders on average should be reading at least 10 minutes every day.

This might not seem like a lot of time but even just 10 minutes of reading time can help make a massive improvement in their reading skills. Make the 10 minutes a daily habit for your child like brushing their teeth.

Also, while 10 minutes is a good average number for all readers, struggling readers might be overwhelmed with anything more than that.

Some children might be hesitant or resist reading every day at first, but there are ways to make reading fun and an activity they look forward to doing.

How do you make reading fun for struggling readers?

Reading can be difficult for some first graders. It is important to be patient but also encouraging with your struggling reader. Here are some activities to make reading fun for them to get them to read every day:

• Read as a family – Reading as a family not only creates strong bonds, but it also helps to give your child a model for good reading habits. When they see you prioritize reading, they are more likely to value it and prioritize it as well.

You can schedule 10 minutes for everyone to read their own books together or you can choose a book as a family to read aloud.

• Read on TV – Using television as a reading tool might seem counterintuitive, but it is a great way to get your child to read without even knowing it!

When your child is watching television turn on the subtitles so that they can watch and read at the same time. This is a strategy commonly used with students learning a second language to practice both reading and listening skills.

• Visit a library – Get your child excited to read by going on a couple “reading field trips” such as going to a library. You can tour your local library and have your child pick out a few books to take home.
• Visit a museum – Another great “reading field trip” option is to visit a museum. Museums often have a ton of great reading practice opportunities, and you can also prep your child before the visit by reading an article or story about the museum.
• Talk to an author – What better way to get your child about reading a book than by talking to the person that wrote it?

While you might not be able to talk to J.K. Rowling, many children’s books authors have meet ups at local bookstores or you can ask to talk to them virtually through Zoom.

Websites like Cameo also have some authors offering to record personalized videos, so you can have an author create a video just for your child!

• Create reading goals – Reading goals can help your child see the progress they are making and helps to keep them motivated. You can help them visualize and meet these goals by creating a reading goal chart or tracker and display it somewhere they will always see it.
  
• Use a reading app – Technology is your greatest tool to help with your struggling readers. Try using reading apps such as  Readability which acts like a private reading tutor for your child. They can get reading help whenever and wherever they need it!
• Get them to write – Reading and writing are closely related language skills. Often, good readers make good writers, and good writers make good readers.

You can encourage your child to practice their writing and reading skills by making comic books or short stories together then read them as their daily reading material.

First grade is a critical time for young readers to improve their reading skills and build new ones. Using activities and tools such as Readability can make reading fun and interactive for struggling or reluctant readers. Encouraging your child to read every day can help them to become a better reader and actually learn to enjoy reading.

No parent wants their child to fall behind, but unfortunately, some children will struggle to develop critical reading skills in elementary school. The best way for your child to improve their reading skills is to practice. After all, practice makes perfect. But what should they read? Follow these tips to find the right books for struggling readers:

Stick to Topics of Interest

Falling behind in reading is frustrating and disheartening, which is why struggling readers are often reluctant readers. Now is not the time to try to get them to develop new interests. To keep your child motivated, choose books on topics that they already like.

Reading books about topics that they are interested in will keep them engaged and help them build their confidence. Once they are more confident in their reading abilities, they may be open to exploring a wider variety of reading materials.

Take the “High/Low” Approach

Many experts recommend using the “high interest, low vocabulary” approach when looking for the right books for your struggling reader. This means finding a book at an appropriate reading level that is about a topic that interests your child.

The best high/low books will have limited vocabulary and simple sentence structure, but compelling characters and interesting plots. Ideally, a high/low book should not make your child feel like they are reading a “baby book.” For example, if your child is in 3rd grade but reading at a 1st grade level, it’s important to look for a book that doesn’t make them feel as if they are reading a book written for 1st graders.

By using this approach, parents can find books at an appropriate reading level that their kids will be excited about reading.

Use the Five Finger Test

Another way to determine if a book is a good fit for your struggling reader is to use the five finger test. Here’s how it works:

1. If your child finds a book that they would like to read, ask them to flip to a random page in the middle of the book.

2. Instruct your child to read a passage from this random page aloud.

3. Listen closely as your child reads. Hold up one finger every time your child mispronounces a word.

4. If you did not raise a finger, the book is ideal for independent reading, which is reading your child does on their own. If you raised more than five fingers, the book is too challenging for your child to practice with. But if you raised between one to five fingers, the book is ideal for instructional reading, which is reading your child does to improve their reading skills.

Use this simple test to quickly find books that are at the right level for your child.

Choose the Right Genre

Some genres are better for struggling readers than others. For example, reading a mystery novel requires strong comprehension skills, so this genre is not ideal for struggling readers.

The best genres for struggling readers are graphic novels and non-fiction books. Graphic novels typically have eye-catching illustrations and exciting plotlines that will keep kids engaged. Non-fiction books also have detailed illustrations that make understanding the text much easier. Plus, non-fiction books are usually written with short, simple sentences that won’t intimidate or overwhelm struggling readers.

Look For Context Clues

If your child is a struggling reader, chances are they will encounter a number of words that they aren’t familiar with while reading a new book. They will need help decoding these words in order to comprehend the text, which is why you should look for books that provide strong context clues.

For example, select books with detailed illustrations that your child can use to make sense of a confusing or difficult passage. Learning how to use context clues to extract meaning from text is important, so this will give your child an opportunity to develop this crucial reading skill.

Turn to the Readability App

There’s no need to spend hours at the library or bookstore looking for the right books for your struggling reader. Instead, download the Readability app on your smartphone or tablet.

Readability is the only smart reading and comprehension app that your child can use anytime, anywhere. The app will start by introducing your child to content that is one level lower than their reading level. This will build their confidence and motivate them to keep reading. As they improve their phonics and comprehension skills, the app will automatically increase the difficulty of the content they read.

Your search for the perfect books for your struggling reader is over—download the Readability app to start your free 7-day trial today.

The typical six-year-old is usually either in kindergarten or first grade (depending on their birthday and district mandates). Reading skills at age six can vary wildly—some children are proficient readers, others are working on sight words and early literacy skills. For this reason, some parents wonder if their 6 year old is struggling with reading.

If you are lying in bed at night fretting that “my 6 year old is struggling with reading!” try not to stress too much. Here’s how parents may be able to better determine if a child really is struggling:

Grade-Level Benchmarks

Schools should have grading rubrics in place to help parents understand grade-level expectations. In elementary school, grades could be letters or numbers. With the number system, children are usually graded as ‘above grade level” (4), proficient/at-grade level (3), partial mastery (2) and area of concern (1). These explanations could differ per district, however. The letter system is a bit easier for parents to understand; A through F provides a bit more definition and less ambiguity for parents. A child with a C, for example, is still scoring average.

These rubrics and how a child measures provides a glimpse into subject mastery. Typically, schools will provide a progress report in the middle of a quarter to help parents better understand their child’s progress and their struggles. Scores and reports are one way that a parent can understand a child’s reading ability.

Standardized Tests

Many districts implement standardized tests in reading and math to better understand students’ progress and mastery in these subjects. These tests may be administered throughout the school year to ensure that children are progressing appropriately and meeting grade-level standards.

Parents should receive scores from these tests; typically, scores will show a percentile rank and how a child compares to peers in the same grade. These tests can vary, however, and if a child is ill, tired or simply just having a bad day, their scores could be affected.

If a child is consistently scoring low or seems to be struggling to read at home, too, parents may want to request a meeting with the teacher and discuss options or possible interventions. While a single low score may be a blip, consistently struggling on reading tests could warrant more attention.

Struggles at Home

Parents may notice struggles at home before a teacher picks up on an issue. Maybe a child fails to grasp what is read to them or has issues sounding out words. When reading with a child, any struggles should be noted.

That being said, parents should not expect children to read perfectly and without error. Reading—like all skills—takes time and practice. Yes, for some children reading comes naturally…and easily. For other children, though, reading requires nightly practice and some parent involvement.

How to Work on Reading Skills at Home

All kids should read for fun. Whether a parent reads to a child or if a child reads independently, books and stories should be encouraged for entertainment. Yet, reading also has to be a skill that is mastered so that children can read to learn.

Play Reading Games

Six-year-olds are still at the age where memorizing sight words may be part of the curriculum. Make flashcards to help children quickly identify these words. Or play sight word reading games. When reading a book or story, have children spot all the sight words for a scavenger hunt activity. Parents also can make Bingo cards and play Sight Word Bingo. Get creative to help children embrace a reading adventure!

Listen to a Book

Children can listen to an audiobook while reading or following along in a book or story. Hearing the story may help them better understand what is being read or learn to decipher difficult words. Some children are auditory learners, and listening may be a better way to absorb information.

Talk about the Story

Encourage children to read a level-appropriate book aloud. Help correct any errors they make while reading, and ask questions about the plot and characters, too. Focus on the ‘w/h’ questions of comprehension: who, what, when, where, why…and how.

Let Children Choose Their Books

Sometimes kids don’t like to read, because they simply don’t like the book or story. To encourage children to read, allow them to choose their own book. If you want to encourage independent reading, be sure to choose books on their level.

Use a Reading App

For parents who want instructional help for the child, a reading app like Readability may provide the support they need to increase their reading skills. Readability provides leveled content that advances in difficulty as a child masters each level; lessons are never too easy or too difficult. Stories offer interactive features and colorful illustrations to keep children immersed in the reading experience. Parents can track their child’s progress via the Parent Dashboard, which allows parents to view time spent on the app as well as the child’s reading level.

Parents should feel confident that an app is the right fit for their child’s individual needs, and Readability offers a seven-day free trial that allows parents and their child to explore the app’s content and features. Ready to try Readability? Sign up for a free trial today.

Most people think that children start to learn to read in school. However, learning to read actually starts at home, long before they enter school! Teaching your child simple reading skills even before they enter school can help them learn quicker and better later on.

There are many studies that show that even reading to a baby in the womb has many benefits. Often, children who do not get enough exposure to reading at home end up struggling with reading.

One way children first learn to read is through sight words, so it is essential for parents to know how to teach sight words to struggling readers. 

What are sight words?

Sight words are words that must be memorized because they do not follow conventional spelling and phonetic rules and are often commonly used words in a language.

Sight words are best taught to be memorized early on in the reading process so that children will not have to decode them later on through spelling or phonetic clues. Instead, they automatically see the word and know it’s meaning and function.

There is often confusion between sight words and high-frequency words. Some high-frequency words are also considered sight words, but not all sight words are necessarily high-frequency words. However, sight words must be words that do not follow the phonetic and spelling rules of a language.

How many sight words should my child know? 

The amount of sight words your child should know depends on their age and grade level. 

By the end of kindergarten, your child should be proficient with about 20 sight words and by first grade, 100 words.

Once your child is in second grade they might be learning and able to identify over 200 sight words. The more sight words they know the more fluent they become with reading and the easier reading comprehension will be for them. Basically, the more sight words your child knows the better readers they will become.

So, if more sight words means a better reader, how can we help struggling reading learn more sight words?

How can I help my child learn sight words?

It might seem overwhelming for you and your child to learn over hundreds of sight words. Here are some helpful ways to make teaching and learning sight words easier:

• Set Goals – In order to keep track of how many sight words your child is learning, it is good to set goals. It can also be helpful to create a visual such as a chart or graph where your child can see the progress that they are making.

Although on average readers should be adding about 100 sight words to their vocabulary by the end of each school year, you might want to modify that for your child if they are struggling.

You want to set goals that can get your child to their target reading level, but they should be goals that are also realistic.

• Teach little by little – Instead of overwhelming your struggling reader with dozens of sight words, introduce words in small groups.

Your child should work with about five words at a time and then once they have mastered those five sight words, they can move on to another five.

• Practice one word daily – The best way for your child to memorize a sight word is to practice, practice, and practice.

It takes the average child about four to 14 exposures to learn a new word. The more exposures that your child has to a word the quicker they will learn it.

One way to help them practice is to choose one word to use daily and to use it as much as they can all day whether they are speaking or writing it. You should do the exercise with them and try to use the daily word with them as much as possible as well. This can help them have a model for how and when to use the word.

• Play games – Children learn best when they are having fun. Playing games that utilize sight words can be a fun way to learn new words for your children.

There are plenty of online resources that you can use such as worksheets and word game apps. But, you can also make materials yourself such as word searches, word bingo, or even just play “I spy” with words.

• Find them in books – Playing “I Spy” with words is a great exercise to use when reading with your child. 

Finding sight words in books can help show your struggling reader how sight words are actually used and can help them see them in context.

While memorizing sight words is helpful, you want to also make sure that your child knows how to use them and how they help bring meaning to sentences.

• Use a reading app – Online tools can also help you teach your struggling reader sight words. Apps such as Readability are great tools to use because they help turn the learning process into an interactive and fun activity.

Readability works like a private tutor for your child and listens to them as they read a loud then identifies words that they mispronounce or say incorrectly. The app then gives them feedback and error correction.

This is a great way to check which sight words your child still needs to learn and also helps with their vocabulary building in general.

Using a specialized reading app such as Readability can help them learn to read quickly and easily. Readability makes reading fun and interactive so your child does not even realize they are learning!

Learning to read can be difficult for many children. If they are struggling to read early on, it is important to give them support and help right away. Sight words are often a good way to help a struggling reader because it gives them a tool to easily identify words and helps them to read more fluently.

The realization that a child is struggling with reading can take parents by surprise. A parent-teacher conference could have drawn attention to the concerns, and perhaps parents received test scores that showed that the child was reading below benchmark reading standards. Sometimes, however, parents are the first to pick up on a child’s reading struggle.

Difficulty understanding the plot of the story or stammering while pronouncing words could raise concerns for parents who feel that their child should be reading more proficiently. Parents may wonder: “Why is my child struggling with reading?” Parents may feel anxious and push for intervention, but denial of the problem also could be a convenient coping mechanism for parents who aren’t ready to confront their child’s struggle.

Fear of Getting Reading Help

Some parents may worry that their child will be labeled or feel that there is a stigma associated with special education instruction that may be part of an individualized education plan (IEP). While special education might have been stigmatized in the past, today many children qualify for some form of special education assistance. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 2018-2019, 14 percent of students in public school received special education services.

Still, not all reading difficulties require intervention, and not all students who read below benchmark will qualify for an IEP or specialized services. For those who don’t qualify for intervention or services in the classroom, the responsibility may fall on parents to help children at home to ensure that they make the strides necessary to increase reading fluency and hit benchmark standards.

Struggling to Help with Reading

Parents aren’t teachers, though. The struggle for parents becomes how to help children,  especially if they are reading at a level–or several levels–below peers. How do parents successfully boost a child’s reading fluency?  Or ensure that their child can meet the benchmark reading standards associated with their grade-level?

There are many options for parents, but not every option is ideal for each child. Reading struggles can be complex, involving both struggles in comprehension and phonics. Other children may only struggle with one component of reading. However, before parents can address their child’s reading struggle, they have to understand why their child is struggling.

Before starting any at-home strategies, parents should investigate the underlying cause of the reading struggle. So why is my child struggling with reading? Here are a few explanations for reading struggles in children:

Dyslexia, Autism and Hearing Impairment

Dyslexia, autism and hearing concerns could cause a child to struggle with reading. Children with autism may have amazing decoding skills but struggle with comprehension. A child with dyslexia may have multiple struggles that affect reading skills. And a hearing impairment may cause a child to miss sounds and, thus, cause them to struggle with reading or spelling. However, a child’s reading struggle could be unique with any of these diagnoses.

The Mayo Clinic defines dyslexia as “…a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding).” Mayo Clinic explains common hallmark symptoms of dyslexia that could raise red flags for parents;  a child may read below the expected level, have issues with sequences, and can’t visually distinguish the similarities and differences of letters, but there are several additional signs, too.

If a parent suspects that their child may have dyslexia, they should ask for guidance from their child’s pediatrician. Children may need to see other specialists (like a licensed educational psychologist or neurologist) and/or clinicians for the appropriate diagnosis to be made. Autism, too, needs to be diagnosed by a professional, and a pediatrician may help parents find specialists to help with this journey. A hearing impairment can be diagnosed through testing, too.

Inconsistent Reading Habits

A child may struggle with reading if there isn’t enough encouragement to read at home. The more a child reads, the more fluent they may become at reading. This is why many school districts encourage children to engage in nightly reading–typically 20 to 30 minutes each day.

If parents are dismissing this recommendation, a child’s proficiency could lag behind peers. When kids are behind, though, parents can read with them each night. Help them sound out words and ask them questions about the story.

For young readers, make sight word flashcards so a child can easily and quickly identify all their sight words. Then encourage them to find the sight words in the stories they read.

Reading Has Become Boring Homework

Yes, kids need to read consistently. However, years of nagging may have left kids to feel that reading is just another homework assignment. This could lead to them not engaging in the reading assignments or not enjoying the act of reading. This reluctance to read or engage in their assignments can, once again, cause them to fall behind.

A Child Fell Down The Summer Slide

Reading isn’t just something to do during the school year. Kids need to engage in reading (and math!) during summer to keep skills fresh. The summer slide refers to a regression in skills related to the long summer vacation. Children who don’t open a book all summer can easily regress and lose reading skills.

Join a book club during the summer and keep kids reading!

Demographics

Reading difficulties could be tied to socio-economic differences, too. Reading Rockets explains that children may  “…have weaknesses in vocabulary, academic language, and academic background knowledge.” That is, children might not have been exposed to as many words or have had the same educational advantages as their peers. This weakness could be related to parents not having time to read to them as well as other socio-economic struggles.

An Easy Way to Help? Use a Reading App.

Parents might not have the time to sit down and work one-on-one with a child. However, parents can utilize a reading app like Readability to keep kids reading and address their unique struggles.

Readability offers a built-in AI tutor that helps children throughout their reading journey. The virtual tutor will gently correct mispronunciations and ask children questions related to the story to gauge understanding. The app advances in difficulty as the child exhibits proficiency so that lessons are never too difficult…or too easy.

Ready to try out Readability? Sign up for a free seven-day trial today and help children become more fluent readers!

Many schools have announced plans to return to school for a part-time basis in the classroom. While two (or three) days may be spent in a normal classroom environment, the rest of the week may involve distance learning. Other schools may be embracing a fully remote learning environment and not returning to the classrooms at all.

For children who read below grade level or who have struggled with reading in the past, the lack of class time may worry parents who fear that their children will continue to fall behind. There are many ways parents can learn how to help a struggling reader during distance learning, especially if the child doesn’t receive additional assistance through a 504 Plan or an IEP.  

Keep Communication Lines Open with the School

Just because a child is learning from home doesn’t mean that they won’t have contact or access to their teachers. Schools have embraced Zoom meetings or other ways to stay connected, and even video conferencing can allow children to get additional help or guidance from the teacher.

Parents need to take advantage of these meeting times, too, especially when they need to figure out how to help a struggling reader. Find out when a child’s teacher is available to conference or to talk privately. Parents can inquire about additional reading materials that can help a struggling reader get back on track.

Communication between the school and parents is key to ensure that a child’s academic struggles are addressed. Even if a child doesn’t qualify for an IEP or a 504 Plan, many teachers are still able (and willing!) to provide parents with extra reading materials or enrichment exercises.

Teachers also could refer parents to specialized reading instructors that work for the district. These teachers may be able to provide guided instruction to struggling readers.

Make Sure Kids Read Regularly

When kids struggle to read, they may avoid books completely. Maybe their frustration keeps them from enjoying a book or story. Encourage struggling readers to pick up a book, magazine or comic book every day.

Sit with them and help them sound out words. Ask questions about the story as they read to gauge their understanding. Make sure kids read books and stories that interest them and that are on their reading level.

However, parents also can read to their children. Children who might not be reading on grade level may still want to read the same books and stories that their friends are reading. Parents can encourage them to read books on their level, but parents also can read aloud the stories that their grade-level peers are enjoying, too.

While reading a book beyond the appropriate level may become very frustrating, having a parent read complex texts can allow kids to enjoy the story without worrying about stumbling over words. However, parents should still gauge a child’s understanding by asking questions after each chapter.

Complement Books with Fun Activities

We’ve discussed how parents can incorporate activities from books or stories to engage a child into the action or plot of the story. You can cook meals that characters eat in the book or take a field trip inspired by the book. Or just watch the movie adaptation of the book.

Activities can help children immerse into the plot and step into the shoes of the characters from the story. Take a book field trip or cook up some green eggs and ham! Jump into the story and help your child see how much fun reading can be!

Don’t be afraid to get creative with activities. Parents can help children put on puppet shows from the book, too. Or have your child design a shoe-box diorama. Sometimes thinking outside the binding of the book can be a great way to better understand how to help a struggling reader.

Work with Worksheets

Reading worksheets can be found all over the internet. If your child needs extra reading help, parents can hunt down a few worksheets for extra enrichment. These lessons may even include comprehension questions that children will need to answer after reading a paragraph or excerpt.

Your child’s teacher also may be able to provide some additional reading worksheets. Parents also could order reading enrichment materials online.

Use a Reading App

For children that need more help reading on grade-level, parents can utilize a reading app like Readability. Before committing to an app or reading program, be sure to research its capabilities and features to ensure it meets your child’s needs. Readability is designed to help children with phonetic, phonemic and comprehension struggles.

Readability also moves at a pace that is ideal for each child; lessons gradually become more difficult as the child shows mastery. After each book, the app’s AI tutor will ask questions to gauge a child’s understanding of the story. The AI tutor is programmed to recognize each child’s unique voice, and this allows the tutor to help correct any mispronunciations during lessons, too.

Parents can follow their child’s progress via the Parent Dashboard. Data from the dashboard will show how long a child engaged with the app and will allow parents to see their current reading level. This provides insight for parents who need reassurance about their child’s progress.

Parents can sign-up for a free trial for seven days to better understand the features and efficacy of the app and to be sure it’s right for their child. Interested in trying out the app during fall distance learning? Sign up for free now!