Reading comprehension issues have become even more pressing since the pandemic started.
- As always, we are seeing students with dyslexia and learning disabilities who are far behind. With the pandemic, the reading comprehension gap has widened for many of these kids
- For the first time, we are seeing many smart kids with no disabilities, who go to excellent schools, but who still are 2, 3 and even 4 years below grade level in reading comprehension
- Schools have done what they can this year, but it has not been enough
5 Keys to Reading Comprehension Success
1 – If your child is a lot smarter than present results indicate, and you want to significantly improve your child’s reading comprehension , you must take action now.
2 – Reject the status quo and consider the mantra that “Reading Comprehension Success is the Only Option”
3 – Identify your child’s strengths and challenges.
Most smart struggling students:
- Learn differently. They are often a right-brain, visual or kinesthetic learner. They learn best when they see and experience information
- Have a combination of challenges that might include – working memory, processing speed, visual processing, attention and/or anxiety.
- Struggle with traditional interventions that don’t capitalize on their visualization skills or identify and address the related challenges
- Can do far better with an approach that:
- Plays to their strengths and interests
- Identifies and addresses their challenges
- Ignites a love for learning that is often missing
- Helps you to be the coach and advocate your child needs
Download our strengths and challenges inventory with
10 common strengths and 10 common challenges our students have
We offer a no cost conversation on
“How to Improve My Child’s Reading Comprehension “
Call us at 561-361-7495 or click here to schedule a conversation
4 – Goals matter. If your child is much smarter than present results would indicate, set a BOLD Goal (e.g. Mary’s son was 2 years below grade level. His reading comprehension was at the 2nd grade level. She set the goal for him to improve his reading comprehension 3 grade levels in 6 months and to love reading. This was a BOLD Goal, but it led to him doing just that).
Important points to consider when setting goals and choosing a program:
- Significant negative news on reading comprehension can be a catalyst for taking action. That is exactly how the 3D Learner Program ® came to be. We never doubt the ability of a committed mom or dad to make the difference
- Parents are often shocked to hear that it may take 2, 3 or even 4 years to get your child’s reading back to grade level. These programs are often phonics-based programs that can take a long time.
- The 3D Learner approach is to significantly improve comprehension in 4 to 6 months. Most of our students are either right-brain, visual or kinesthetic learners who have struggled for years with traditional interventions.
- Three things that make these students different are:
- They learn best when they see and experience information
- They can often struggle with working memory, processing speed, attention, visual processing and/or anxiety issues
- When one capitalizes on their strengths, identifies, and addresses their challenges, they can make significant gains in months not years
5 – Partner with the right professional (s) to help your child succeed. You also want to work with professionals who will help you to be the coach and advocate your child needs.
The Difference between Reading and Reading Comprehension
Reading and Reading Comprehension are two very different skills.
Reading is often defined as how efficiently and effectively a student reads, while reading comprehension is understanding what one reads. Reading level and reading comprehension levels can differ by years.
Many parents are told that their child’s reading is not that bad. When we assess their child, the parents are often surprised to discover how far below grade level their child’s reading comprehension is.
The challenge is that schools often use reading levels and not reading comprehension levels. A 5th grade parent was told her child was reading on grade level, and that was true.
Ask your child’s teacher to clarify your child’s present level of reading and reading comprehension!!
“From her I-Ready score I knew my child had a reading problem.” I-Ready is a computerized program used by many schools. “When you tested my daughter’s reading comprehension and discovered it was 3 years below grade level, I was ready to act”. M James, Boca Raton.
Other catalysts can be:
- Grade retention risks. A parent called us almost at the end of last year’s school year when their child’s teacher recommended grade retention. The issue was primarily reading comprehension. When asked if it was too late to help, we responded, “No, if you act quickly”. The parents did. With our help, within 4 weeks the teacher commented “He is making so much progress I can’t possibly hold him back,”. By the end of the summer the young man’s comprehension was ahead of grade level
- Pressure from private schools is higher than ever. One young man was 2 years below grade level in third grade. The private school recommended the parents find another school, even though the young man had an above average IQ. He appeared to be a right-brain or visual learner, and he had parents committed to make the difference. With our help, over the next year, he improved his reading comprehension 3 grade levels. His teacher commented:
“Jack made more progress in a year than any student I have had in 27 years of teaching”.
One mom knew her child was a lot smarter than present results would indicate. She asked the principal what she could do to improve her daughter’s reading comprehension. He responded, “There is no need to do anything different. Her comprehension is at the 48th percentile and someone needs to be average”.
Mom joined our community of “Make the Difference Moms”. Within a year her daughter’s reading comprehension had gone from the 48th to the 95th percentile. Even better, her grades improved, even though she was taking harder classes.
To Improve Reading Comprehension
First download our Strengths and Challenges Inventory. It will give you valuable insights into your child’s strengths and challenges. If the need is urgent, we recommend you contact us immediately to discuss your situation.
