When your child is reading below their appropriate grade level, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to begin supporting their unique needs. As a parent, understanding reading levels and how best to encourage your child to continue reading even when they\u2019re feeling discouraged is one of the best ways to turn things around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time, children fall behind on reading levels<\/a> because they haven\u2019t found books that they\u2019re interested in, and can become frustrated with the reading process. Whether they\u2019re struggling with reading comprehension<\/a> or with basics like phonics and sounds, the good news is, this can be turned around with a few best practices that you can do at home!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karen Burke, senior vice president of data analysis and academic planning at Scholastic, has some helpful tips on what to do to improve your child\u2019s reading levels at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Identify What’s Challenging Them<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First thing\u2019s first: Identifying when and why your child is struggling with reading will help you better figure out the best approach on how to improve a child\u2019s reading. Not all reading problems are the same \u2014 for example, your child may be struggling with reading comprehension, basics like phonics, or even the number of words they\u2019re able to read per minute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to recognize the signs when they first appear, be it when you\u2019re reading together at home or when your child is in school, by communicating with their teacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBe sure to reach out to the school and your child\u2019s teacher to understand your child\u2019s areas for growth as a reader,\u201d says Burke. \u201cSome signs that your child might be struggling with reading are avoidance, slow labored oral reading, or selecting books quite a bit below the grade level and perhaps still struggling. The child shows difficulty in decoding words.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, the underlying cause of reading struggles is dyslexia. Screening for dyslexia requires a trained expert. The best way to get help and guidance is by connecting with your child’s school district for support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Understand Reading Levels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting to know reading levels and their importance in your child\u2019s ability to read will also help you come up with a game plan on how to improve reading level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReading levels help parents understand where a child is at a certain time and how the child is progressing over time,\u201d says Burke. \u201cEducators always want to see a child grow a minimum of one year in every grade level regardless of where they start. Children who are behind need to grow more than one year.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several measurements by which your child\u2019s reading level is determined. Each of these methods of reading level determination are administered at the beginning of the year by your child\u2019s teacher. Normally, your child will read a benchmark book to their teacher and discuss it. Your teacher then determines reading comprehension, fluency, and accuracy and scores your child based on those factors. From there, you can accurately determine how best to get their reading level up if needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your child’s teacher what your child’s reading level is. You can then easily find the reading level of every book at Scholastic Book Clubs<\/a>, no matter what leveling system your child’s teacher uses, to find the appropriate books to help them progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Read Constantly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents who regularly read themselves<\/a> will model this love of reading for their children from an early age. When your child sees how excited you get to read your own books and to dive back into them each day, it\u2019ll spark a similar response in your child. Similarly, starting a conversation about what thrills you about your own books will encourage your child to do the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVoluminous reading is key to helping a child acquire both vocabulary and knowledge,\u201d says Burke. \u201cOral language and conversations that are rich in ideas and concepts are key to building background knowledge and building confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Routines are incredibly helpful in this endeavor. Reading books together and asking questions of your child to get their feedback on the material will feel like the joyful experience reading really is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCreating a reading routine at home demonstrates the importance of reading,\u201d says Burke. \u201cHaving books in the home library and rereading favorite books is a terrific way to build confidence in vocabulary and fluency.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Create a cozy environment to read in \u2014 even building a blanket fort adds to the magic! \u2014 and designate it as their special reading space, where it\u2019s quiet and they can concentrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Find the Right Books<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When you speak with your child\u2019s teacher, asking them for recommendations for the best books for your child\u2019s reading level will be a helpful tool in improving your child\u2019s reading skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBooks in a series can help children deepen their understanding of the plot and characters by adding information about the characters as they read the next book in a series,\u201d says Burke. \u201cThe books have a style and design that children become accustomed to and they can begin to anticipate how the author will share the story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Early chapter book series<\/a> and graphic novels<\/a> are wonderful ways to bridge the gap in reading comprehension, and can provide the step children need to graduate from picture books and read-alouds to independent reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind to indulge their interests<\/a> when creating a reading list, too. \u201cHave children pick books that interest them,\u201d says Burke. \u201cHave them read various books with the same theme or topic. Reading every day is critical to improving skills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n