Is My Child Reading at Grade Level?

Parents call daily concerned that their child may not be reading at grade level. Here are some tips for parents to use at home to make sure that they are:

Reading Rate:
Your child's reading rate or speed shows how automatic the skill of reading is for them. Their speed also shows you how well their eyes are tracking on the page. What is the correct rate? Have your child read a familiar text to you and time him/her for one minute. Once they have done this, go back and count how many words they've read. Your child should be able to read their age times 10. So, for example, if your child is 8, they should at minimum be reading 80 words per minute.

Reading Accuracy:
We all make simple errors as we read-especially when we read out loud. In order for children to get better at reading, it is imperative that they are reading at their level. This means that the text is neither too easy nor is it too difficult. Here is how you can tell. Have your child read aloud to you. Whenever he/she makes an error, put one finger down. If all five fingers go down on one page, the text is too difficult. If there are no errors, the text is probably too easy. Another way to tell that your child perhaps isn't reading at level is if he/she struggles to finish a book. If the book is too easy, they are perhaps bored with it. If it is too difficult, they may be frustrated.

Comprehension:
Remembering what you read is the most important aspect of reading. At Excel Achievement, we teach children that if they can't remember what they've read then they've just been "word calling" and not reading. This is because reading is meaning. If your child struggles with comprehension, the worst thing that you can do as a parent is interrogate them with questions about the text. You will want to treat your reading time together more like an Oprah book club with each of you equally sharing your thoughts, feelings, and natural questions. For example, " Why do you suppose the kangaroo in this story refuses to believe Horton?"

Reading is a very complex process that improves over time with the correct instruction. If you have specific questions about your child's reading, please don't hesitate to call me at 988-0900.