What Do I Do if My Child Is Struggling To Read?
If your child is struggling to read, you’re not alone. Only about 35 percent of students in the U.S. read proficiently. Reading isn’t a natural process—it requires three regions of the brain to work together to recognize letters, connect them to sounds and blend those sounds into words. To master this, students need explicit, systematic instruction in letters and sounds. For children with challenges like dyslexia, even more direct instruction is required. This evidence-based method, called Structured Literacy, is essential. In fact, about half of all children need structured literacy instruction to become proficient readers, yet many schools still don’t provide it.
Reading aloud to your child is valuable and fosters curiosity and a love of books, but learning to read takes daily practice and feedback. Set aside 10–15 minutes for your child to read to you. Use that time to review letter sounds, break words into syllables, or play games with words and sentences. Read aloud together from decodable books or early readers, focusing on sounding out words rather than guessing from pictures or memorization.
If your child is struggling, act quickly. Early intervention matters: it’s four times harder to help a struggling fourth grader reach grade level than a kindergartener. Without support, struggling readers fall further behind each year.
The good news? With structured literacy, 95 percent of students can learn to read proficiently. If your child isn’t receiving this instruction in school, you may need outside support. Ask schools about their reading programs and test scores, or consider a tutor who uses structured literacy methods. Most importantly, know this: it’s never too late to get your child on the path to reading success.
Barry Davis is Head of School at McLean School, a K-12 independent school in Potomac, Maryland, serving bright students, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges. Since 1954, McLean has helped students realize their full potential with a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum that is traditional without being rigid, challenging without being intimidating, and designed with the real world in mind. A full-scope offering of athletics, performing and visual arts, rounds out the McLean program.