Young student reading book in library
I think my child is struggling with reading. I am concerned about his reading skills. What are the signs of a reading weakness?
Reading issues can be hard to detect for parents. Is your child reading on grade level? Is his lack of reading motivation a bigger issue? We put together a list of reading characteristics to help parents identify reading weaknesses.
Decoding Weaknesses:
Have you heard of dyslexia? Dyslexia is the most common reading disability. It refers to the inability to decode or break down words into phonemes (sounds). Decoding skills are essential to reading.
Signs of decoding weaknesses or dyslexia are:
confusion between letters and their sounds
slow oral reading rate (fluency)
reading without expression
difficulty sounding out words
difficulty recognizing words out of content
ignoring punctuation while reading
Reading Comprehension Weaknesses:
Comprehension refers to understanding the information that has been read. This involves thinking critically and being able to use context clues to understanding the text. Comprehension relies on the mastery of decoding and fluency.
Signs of reading comprehension difficulties are:
confusion about the meaning of words and sentences
difficulty connecting ideas in a passage
omitting details while reading
inability to identify important information from minor details
inability to concentrate during reading
Reading Fluency Weaknesses:
Reading fluency refers to the rate or speed of reading. It also refers to reading with expression; the ability to read rapidly, smoothly, effortlessly and automatically.
Signs of reading fluency weaknesses are:
reading slowly and with difficulty, both orally and silently
reading without expression nor with intonation when reading orally
difficulty processing more than one word at a time
decoding words sound by sound
the inability to self correct while reading; usually just reads to get through the text without going back to correct misread words
needing to reread text to get a better understanding of the material
If you think your child may have a reading weakness or disability, it is important to share your concerns with his or her teacher. Communicating with your child’s teacher is an important way to advocate for your child’s needs.
Do you feel your child has a reading weakness? Let’s talk. Contact one of our Educational Specialists TODAY and we can discuss your concerns!