How can you help my child to get better at reading? They struggle so much at school.

Answer 1

Helping your child get better at reading starts with breaking it into small, fun steps so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Focus on phonics first by practicing the sounds letters make, then blend those sounds into words. Use simple, colorful books and let your child read with you—take turns reading sentences so they feel supported. If they get stuck, don’t rush them; gently guide them to sound out the word. Make reading part of daily life by labeling things around the house, playing word games, or letting them pick stories they enjoy. Since they struggle in school, extra encouragement and praise at home can build their confidence. For ESL/ESOL learners, connect words to pictures and real-life actions so they understand the meaning as well as the sound. The key is patience, consistency, and making reading feel like a fun discovery instead of a chore.

Answer 2

How can you help my child to get better at reading? They struggle so much at school.

School can be hard. Teachers have multiple children to serve. That means multiple learning styles, multiple backgrounds, multiple achievement levels, multiple interests. That’s hard - both for the teacher & also for the student.

A tutor has one child to serve. That means getting to know one child, one learning style, one background, one achievement level, & one set of interests. Understanding all these things & approaching the child individually, at that child’s pace, can make a huge difference! An experienced, well-trained reading tutor has the flexibility & time to design, & re-design, ways to meet your child’s needs.

I always start with the student, lead him/her into an appropriate book at the right reading level & most importantly at the right interest level, then use the book as the springboard for all reading skills that need improvement & bring this all back to the student’s life & interests.

This approach makes reading about the child. There is a reason the student wants to get better at phonics, learn more vocabulary words, improve comprehension: because it’s fun, interesting & relevant.

Answer 3

Virtually all children struggling in school, including the brightest children, suffer from slightly too-slow processing speed for language. Just 30 milliseconds too slow—(it takes 100 milliseconds to blink your eye)— means children cannot reliably detect tiny elements in speech such as the difference between the CH sound and the SH sound, tangling up their grasp of directions and explanations. This has nothing to do with intelligence.

Many extremely bright children struggle with this “hidden handicap.”

These children may not be clear whether the teacher said “wash your hands“ or “watch your hands.“. These children often need directions repeated and may have trouble with complex instructions. Just one critical element – faster language processing in the brain — can resolve the problem.

In reading, these children may sound out words slowly and with frequent mistakes. Phonics instruction has not eliminated their problems because phonics does not address the underlying problem. These children may still reverse sounds and say “trap“ instead of “tarp,” or add sounds and say “started out the window“ instead of “stared out the window.“. This means that they won’t understand the story, and they won’t be able to tell you why they don’t. And they will suffer from disappointing you. And they will feel stupid, which they’re not.

All this can be corrected by using patented neuroscience exercises (“ games”) to raise processing speed for language. The correction usually takes two to three months of closely guided practice. Let me urge you to lay this foundation before you use standard phonics approaches such as OG.

For research, you can look up the work of Dr. Michael Merzenich or Dr. Paula Tallal, the neuroscientists behind this amazing approach to helping kids read. Research at Harvard, Yale, and the University of California shows dramatic results.

Our first consultation will be free. Please bring the results of any testing you’ve already had done.

Answer 4

Thank you so much for sharing about your child. I completely understand how discouraging it can feel when reading is a struggle at school. My approach is to first get to know your child—their current strengths, what feels hard, and even what they enjoy outside of school. From there, I tailor lessons to meet them right where they are, rather than expecting them to fit into a one-size-fits-all program.

When I work with elementary readers, I use a mix of phonics-based instruction, hands-on activities, and interactive games that make reading both meaningful and fun. I also weave in research and evidence based strategies to improve comprehension and confidence, so your child learns not only how to read words, but also how to understand and enjoy what they’re reading.

Because our sessions will be online, I incorporate engaging tools and visuals to keep learning lively and interactive—never just another worksheet. Most importantly, I create a supportive environment where mistakes are seen as part of the learning process. That way, your child can take risks, build skills step by step, and experience success each session.

My goal is to help your child feel proud of themselves as a reader—not just to catch up, but to gain the confidence and skills they need to thrive.

Answer 5

Here’s how I’d approach helping your child improve reading skills:

1. Assess strengths and challenges – I start by identifying exactly where your child struggles, whether it’s decoding words, understanding vocabulary, or comprehending text.
2. Build phonics and word recognition – Using targeted exercises, we focus on letter-sound relationships, sight words, and decoding strategies, so reading becomes less frustrating and more automatic.
3. Expand vocabulary – I introduce new words in meaningful contexts and practice using them in sentences, which helps with both reading comprehension and writing.
4. Improve comprehension skills – We practice summarizing, predicting, and asking questions about the text, helping your child understand and remember what they read.
5. Make reading engaging and confidence-building – I choose age-appropriate, interesting materials and celebrate small successes to boost confidence and motivation.

Answer 6

How can I help your child get better at reading?

As a certified K–8 teacher with a literacy endorsement 📚 and over 25 years of classroom experience, I specialize in helping students who struggle with reading—whether it’s phonics, fluency, comprehension, or confidence.

I use up-to-date, research-backed methods grounded in the Science of Reading 🧠. Unlike speaking, which is a natural process the brain is wired for, reading is not an innate skill—it must be explicitly taught and practiced step by step. That’s where I come in. I use structured, phonics-based lessons to build strong decoding skills and help your child master the building blocks of reading.

📖 Reading comprehension is another area where many students get stuck. I teach proven strategies like visualization, making connections, asking questions, summarizing, and identifying main ideas and supporting details. We work together to build the mental "toolbox" students need to understand and remember what they read—whether it's fiction, textbooks, or word problems in math.

But it’s not just about the method—it’s also about the relationship. I work hard to build trust 🤝 and help students feel safe, supported, and capable. Once your child starts experiencing small wins and sees that reading is something they can do, their confidence grows—and that’s when real progress begins.

Most students I work with show measurable growth within weeks, and many move up a full grade level in just a few months! 🌟

If your child is falling behind or frustrated with reading, don’t wait. I’d love to partner with you to turn things around. Message me, Michele W., today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward helping your child thrive. Scroll to the bottom of the profile page to find the message me button. ✨📩