Is Your Child Struggling with Reading?

As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to see your child struggle with something that comes so easily for others. You feel helpless as your child’s confidence and enthusiasm falls. You talk to your child’s school, and they tell you “Just wait.” But, you know that is NOT the answer that you need. You KNOW your child cannot wait.

1 in 4 children in the U.S. grows up without learning how to read.

• The 2022 NAEP Reading Assessment found that 37% of 4th graders could not read at basic levels. Only 30% of 4th graders performed as proficient readers in 2022. Stats show that a child is 90% likely to remain a poor reader at the end of the 4th grade if the child is a poor reader at the end of 1st grade. I won’t get into why this is, but I will say that it is not getting better. Something is going terribly wrong in the schools.
• 40% of children struggle with reading without any sort of learning disability. They simply need explicit reading instruction with a focus in phonics to learn to read. If they receive the instruction they need, they will read. If not, they won’t. Sadly, most students aren’t receiving this type of instruction in school.

“My granddaughter had trouble with phonics. We’d tried everything and thought she would never get it! After just a few sessions with Deb, she caught on and looks forward to every session. I love the enthusiasm Deb shows when teaching her…she truly has made her want to learn!” Monica Lindquist

The GOOD NEWS is that ALL of these struggling readers respond to the same type of science-based reading instruction:  a direct, structured, multisensory approach with a strong focus on phonics.

Early intervention is vital. The longer these children struggle, the harder it will be for them to catch up. Texas law requires schools to provide specific support for struggling readers, but in some districts it is still incredibly difficult to achieve.

“Deb Evans has changed my daughter’s outlook on reading. Not only is she learning to read, she enjoys it and looks forward to it.” Maxie Foster, mom to 6-year-old student

The Approach

• Determine the ROAD BLOCK. Why is your child struggling?
• BACK UP to the beginning. Often something fundamental has been missed. Until this is corrected, your child will not be able to move forward. It’s like teaching a student algebra when they don’t understand addition. Or, in the case of dyslexia, teaching algebra to a child who doesn’t understand that numbers are symbols that represent different values.
• Work on ATTITUDE. By the time I see a student, the attitude is usually pretty bad. These children are frustrated and, often, have decided they will never learn to read. My primary goal at this point is to to turn it around. I do this by being positive, encouraging, friendly, and fun!
• Work SLOWLY and at your child’s pace. Introduce new concepts thoroughly and include lots of review. As the child’s confidence and skills improve, we can speed up the pace, but it’s important to not move too quickly or we risk bringing the frustration back.
• Use an APPROACH THAT WORKS. The Science of Reading shows that students respond to an explicit, systematic, sequential, multi-sensory approach. This is the teaching approach that I use! Phonics is the foundation of reading.
• Give plenty of opportunities for success including using decodable readers appropriate to the child’s current lessons. Practice, practice, practice.
• READ ALOUD to your children. Read stories that your children are unable to read on their own. This is a SNEAK PEEK at the types of stories they can look forward to reading on their own one day. It also expands their working vocabulary and exposure to worldly themes and ideas.
• Make it FUN! Children learn best through play.
• REPEAT as long as it takes. Never give up!

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