• weta logo
A bilingual site for families and educators of English language learners

Recognizing Reading Problems

By: Reading Rockets (2007)

Learning to read is a challenge for many kids, but most can become good readers if they get the right help. Parents have an important job in recognizing when a child is struggling and knowing how to find help.

What to look for:

  • Difficulty rhyming
  • Difficulty hearing individual sounds
  • Difficulty following directions
  • Difficulty re-telling a story
  • Struggles to sound out most words
  • Avoids reading aloud

What to do:

  • Step 1: Meet with your child's teacher
    • Gather examples of your child's work that reflects your concerns. Ask the teacher for his/her observations and discuss what can be done at school and at home. Stay in touch with the teacher to monitor your child's progress.
  • Step 2: Meet with the principal and/or reading specialist
    • If your child's performance does not improve, meet with other professionals in the building to see if there are classes, services, or other interventions available.
  • Step 3: Get a referral for special education
    • If you have tried all interventions, request an evaluation. Talk to the principal to schedule this.
  • Step 4: Get an evaluation
    • A professional team - which may include a school psychologist, a speech-language pathologist, or a reading specialist - gives your child a series of tests and determines whether s/he is eligible to receive special education services.
  • Step 5: Determine eligibility
    • If your child is found eligible for services, you and the school develop your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP), a plan that sets goals based on your child's specific learning needs and offers special services like small group instruction, tutoring, and assistive technology.
    • If your child is not eligible, stay involved and keep talking to the teacher about your child's progress. You can also turn to private tutoring for extra support.

For more information on helping your kids succeed at reading, visit: www.ReadingRockets.org

Reading Rockets, Colorín Colorado, and LD OnLine are services of public television station WETA, Washington, D.C. Reading Rockets is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Colorín Colorado, a web service to help English language learners become better readers, receives major funding from the American Federation of Teachers. Additional funding is provided by the National Institute for Literacy and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. LD OnLine is the world's leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD, with major funding from Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes.

  • Click here to download this article as a PDF document.*
  • Click here to download this article as a Microsoft Word document.
  • Click here to view this article in Spanish.

*To view this file, you will need a copy of Acrobat Reader. If it is not already installed on your computer, click here to download.

Browse in:  Ed Extras