How can I help my child read?

Many parents out there struggle when it comes to helping their children read. Did you know that most of the population will learn to read without direct instruction? For the rest of the learners, it is not so easy. Reading, for many, is not a process, it just-- is. We don’t think about the rules or the whys. Successfully reading involves two factors: decoding symbols (in this case, letters) and then deriving meaning from those symbols.

The first step in helping your child read is recognizing if they are having difficulty decoding the words on the page (getting the words “right”) or if they are having difficulty understanding the words that they read. Decoding and fluency come from the ability to process orthographically: to be able to form, store, and recall words using a visual system. On the other hand, many children are able to read the words on a page but may not understand what they all mean when read together. This would be a comprehension concern.

Whether there is a comprehension deficit, a decoding deficit, or both, this is a great place to start. Identifying the problem is the first step to understanding your child’s individual reading process.