What can we do as parents to support our child's literacy skills?

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents." Emilie Buckwald

Scores decline in NAEP reading at grades 4 and 8 compared to 2019

In 2022, the average reading score at both fourth and eighth grade decreased by 3 points compared to 2019. At fourth grade, the average reading score was lower than all previous assessment years going back to 2005 and was not significantly different in comparison to 1992. At eighth grade, the average reading score was lower compared to all previous assessment years going back to 1998 and was not significantly different compared to 1992. In 2022, fourth- and eighth-grade reading scores declined for most states/jurisdictions compared to 2019. Average scores are reported on NAEP reading scales at grades 4 and 8 that range from 0 to 500.

Natl Assoc. of Educational Progress

Learning Disabilities

There are approximately 56.6 million students in elementary and secondary schools in the United States (Educationdata.org). 20%, or 1 in 5, would represent 11.2 million students with learning and attention issues. Many more struggle in school but never receive a formal diagnosis.

Learning Disabilities Assoc. of America

Spend Time Reading Together as a Family

Pick up a book, tablet, magazine or newspaper and READ together! You'll be showing your children that reading is an important and fun part of your family's life.

Write with Your Child

Have your child write the grocery list, write thank you notes, write a caption or story under a drawing, or have your child "write" notes to you using words or pictures. Every opportunity to write supports vocabulary and spelling skills development.

Read Aloud to Your Child

"Reading aloud to young children, particularly in an engaging manner, promotes emerging literacy and language development and supports the relationship between child and parent," 2008 Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Develop a Love of Learning

The first step for parents and educators to cultivate a love of learning is to invite questions, and then chase them. Chasing questions means following them to find the other questions that emerge from an initial question.