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Like a hammer, the global pandemic caused by Covid-19 has clobbered us, disrupting and, in some cases, destroying our way of life in ways we never imagined. Like a flashlight, it brightly shined a light on our societal ills, exposing great inequities in our country’s educational system. Locked down schools and parents as teachers have revealed to some parents gaps in their child’s reading skills. Those parents are learning what teachers skilled in and knowledgeable of the science of reading already know, learning how to read isn’t easy!
If you find yourself among the parents who are perplexed by their child’s reading skills, please know that you are not alone. Nationwide, fourth and eighth graders are not performing well in reading. The 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results revealed that only 34% of fourth graders and 32% of eighth graders performed at or above the NAEP proficient level nationally. These staggering percentages are not only disheartening for parents, but also demoralizing for students. To ensure reading performance doesn’t continue to languish at the basic level,more educational leaders and teachers must deepen their understanding of the science of reading. That first step must be succeeded by ongoing participation in training that builds pedagogical skills to practically apply the knowledge in the classroom setting.
As previously mentioned, teaching reading is challenging! If your child is suffering from poor reading skills or dyslexia, our greatest recommendation is to contract the services of a qualified reading tutor. While we strongly encourage parents to work with their child at home, we also believe there are three critical reasons why parents should seek the support of a trained reading tutor.
#1 The Science of Reading is Complex. Remedying poor reading requires a knowledgeable, experienced and qualified professional who possesses a deep understanding of the science of reading. The field of reading has shown that research very slowly reaches the desk of the average teacher. While the information is vast and readily available, many teachers don’t know it exists. Those fortunate enough to have access to the research because they work in a progressive school district or they’re completing graduate studies, sometimes struggle to make sense of it. The language is technical and very scientific; at times, it can feel as if you need a degree in science just to comprehend all of the “phon” words in the field of reading! As you can imagine, the sheer complexity can frustrate teachers and leave the average parent feeling inadequate.
A clear and comprehensible text that helps parents understand how to help their child become a better reader is Dr. Sally Shaywitz’s second edition of Overcoming Dyslexia!
Parent Tip #1 Rather than trying to learn the science of reading, which can feel insurmountable, redirect that energy in locating a professional that is already knowledgeable and eager to be a part of your child’s reading journey!
#2 Reversing Poor Reading Requires Immediate Action. An old adage in the reading community is the “Matthew Effect,” which states, “The Rich Get Richer, and the Poor Get Poorer.” This biblical truism essentially means that the more children read, the greater their exposure to rich and sophisticated language, which results in more reading! If your child is a striving reader, every minute counts! Time is of the essence! You’re racing against the clock! The worse approach is waiting to see if your child’s reading skills will improve over time, as he or she grows older, or next year when he or she is in another grade with another teacher. While your child is waiting, losing confidence, failing classes, and developing disdain for school, other children are growing like wildflowers. They are gaining dexterity with a wide-range of texts, acquiring new words to use when they read, speak or write, becoming smarter on a myriad of topics, and deepening their joy for reading. If you are learning about the science of reading, you cannot provide the immediate intervention that your child needs to change the trajectory of their reading skills. The consequences of poor reading are considerable – academic failure, school drop-out, few employment opportunities, deferred dreams, etc. – you do not have time to experiment with your child’s future!
Parent Tip #2 Do not subscribe to the notion that you can wait for your child to improve in reading. When you notice that your child’s reading skills are not on par with expected growth for same grade-level peers, schedule a conference with your child’s teacher. If the conference does not result in a plan to reverse your child’s reading skills, I implore you to contact a reading tutor who can administer assessments, explain the results and devise a tutoring plan for your child.
#3 Reversing poor reading requires time, patience and objectivity. As an educator, I know all too well the consequences of poor academic achievement and found myself being rigid in my expectations with my children. It was challenging to separate my emotional connection to my children and their academic and personal success. I realized that my desperation was counterproductive. Similarly to other situations in life, a calm approach and level head always prevail! While parents aim to be all things for their children, the reality is they cannot take on the roles of tutor, advocate, coach, motivator, and cheerleader, which will all be required when embarking on the journey of transforming a striving reader to a thriving reader. A reading tutor will serve as the expert that is working with your child to improve his or her reading skills, building confidence, and establishing achievable goals. Having a partnership with a knowledgeable tutor who has the time and patience to work with your child and remain objective about his or her progress will reduce the anxiety and tension that you and your child are likely feeling.
Parent Tip #3 Avoid taking on the role of tutor for your own child. You can best serve your child by advocating for him or her, seeking a skilled tutor, and encouraging and acknowledging his or her success! This will alleviate unnecessary stress and tension.
Hopefully you are convinced that seeking a reading tutor is the best option for you and your child, but you are likely wondering if private tutoring services are affordable. Given the fact that reading problems are exacerbated by time spent not addressing the problem, you simply cannot afford not to provide your child with the services he or she needs. The national average for tutoring services ranges from $25.00/hr to $100.00/hr. The range is broad because many factors influence the specific fee: geographical location; face-to-face versus virtual sessions; the tutor’s credentials and specialization; and the focus of the tutoring session (i.e. dyslexia, mathematics, SAT preparation, homework help, etc.). At Absolute Language & Literacy Tutoring Services, LLC our fees are comparable to the national average, ranging from $35.00 – $65.00 per hour.
We know that deciding what to do for your child regarding their reading needs can be a difficult decision and the main two questions you are likely pondering are (1) should I trust my child’s school and teacher(s) to support him or her in reading or (2) should I spend money to hire a private tutor. During this time of discovery and decision making, we want to support you! Please print our free “Parent Checklist.” The checklist offers three overarching actions, each broken down into smaller actions, that will help you get started with making a decision. Don’t forget to check out Dr. Sally Shaywitz’s second edition of Overcoming Dyslexia! This book will help you build your knowledge so that you can make informed decisions.
If you decide that you want to hire a tutor, we would love to provide the service! We serve children all over the United States. We pride ourselves in offering quality reading tutoring services that leverage nationally recognized curricula that are evidence-based, proven to remediate poor skills and dyslexia. Contact us for a free consultation today!