For many parents, report card season is a time of anticipation and relief. Seeing strong grades on your child’s report card, especially in reading, can feel like a confirmation that they’re thriving academically. But what if those grades don’t tell the whole story?
It’s not uncommon for children to earn decent or even good grades in reading while still facing challenges below the surface. Many children develop strategies to get by in school, masking specific reading difficulties that, if unaddressed, may become bigger obstacles later. Children who are naturally bright or verbal might use these strengths to compensate for reading difficulties in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
Here’s why reading challenges don’t always show up in report cards and how parents can look for signs that may indicate a need for extra support.
The Hidden Layers of Reading Skills
Reading isn’t just one skill—it’s made up of a range of abilities that work together to help a child decode words, understand meanings, and read fluently. For some children, mastering certain foundational skills can be difficult, even if they’ve learned to compensate well enough to earn satisfactory grades. Here are a few key areas where hidden struggles may exist:
- Phonemic Awareness– Phonemic awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in words. It’s an essential pre-reading skill and is crucial for phonics. If a child has weak phonemic awareness, they might struggle with sounding out new words, which can lead to guessing or memorizing words instead of truly reading them.
- Decoding– Decoding involves matching sounds to letters and understanding letter patterns. Some students with decoding challenges might memorize a list of words or rely on picture cues, which can get them through early reading tests but may leave them unprepared for more advanced reading later.
- Reading Fluency– Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. A lack of fluency might not affect grades right away, especially if a child’s comprehension is strong. However, slow or choppy reading can make it harder for them to keep up as text becomes more complex.
- Comprehension– Reading comprehension involves more than just knowing words—it requires making connections, predicting outcomes, and understanding context. Children who struggle with comprehension may get by on short, factual texts but find it increasingly difficult to interpret complex material.
What to Look for Beyond the Grades
For parents, it’s helpful to look beyond report card grades to spot potential reading issues. Here are some common signs that may indicate hidden reading struggles:
- Frequent Guessing: If your child guesses words based on pictures or context rather than reading them accurately, they may be compensating for decoding difficulties.
- Avoidance of Reading: Children who find reading difficult may avoid it altogether. If reading time leads to frustration or excuses, it could be a sign of underlying challenges.
- Reading Slower than Peers: If your child’s reading pace seems slower or more labored than their classmates, they might be struggling with fluency.
- Struggling with Spelling: Poor spelling skills can often reflect issues with phonemic awareness or decoding. If your child has a hard time with spelling, it’s worth paying attention to their reading development as well.
- Difficulty with New Words: If your child can read familiar words but struggles with new or unfamiliar ones, they may lack the necessary decoding skills to break down and understand unknown words.
The Role of a Comprehensive Reading Evaluation
If you’ve noticed any of these signs, consider having a comprehensive reading evaluation done. These evaluations go beyond grades and assess all the crucial skills involved in reading, from phonemic awareness to fluency and comprehension. At Langsford, our evaluations are designed to provide a complete picture of your child’s reading abilities, pinpointing strengths and challenges and identifying any areas where support is needed.
Grades are Just One Piece of the Puzzle
A good report card is always encouraging, but it’s not a guarantee that everything is progressing smoothly in reading. By looking deeper and staying attuned to the more subtle indicators of reading success, you can ensure your child is getting the support they need to build a strong reading foundation. With early intervention and targeted support, hidden reading challenges can be addressed, helping your child gain confidence and thrive both in and out of the classroom.
If you’re concerned about your child’s reading skills or want a clearer picture of their strengths and challenges, reach out to us at Langsford. Together, we can build the reading foundation they need for success!
