Never give up on a child who is struggling to read. With the right help, they can overcome any obstacle.
Dr. Timothy Shanahan, reading expert
Why Some Kids Struggle with Reading
Here are nine reasons why kids can have a hard time becoming skilled readers. When we identify the risk factors as early as possible and begin instructional interventions right away, most long-term reading difficulties can be prevented.
Reading Rockets is made possible with generous support from the National Education Association.
Helping kids who struggle
You may have children in your life who aren’t as successful with reading as they could be. Learn the reasons why, plus practical suggestions on how to support a child’s reading development and self-esteem. Parents will find guidance on advocating for their children, getting help, evaluations, and more.
Looking at screening and intervention
Get the basics on informal and formal assessments — powerful tools that allow you to measure your students’ progress and plan targeted instruction and intervention. Watch reading expert Linda Farrell help kids make big strides in their reading through one-on-one interventions. And you’ll learn how school SLPs work with children on speech sounds, spoken language, and social communication.
Looking at Reading Interventions
In this special video series, reading expert Linda Farrell works one-on-one with students in grades K-3 to help ensure that they master the skills they need to become proficient readers.
Nurturing the strengths of all students
How can we make classrooms welcoming, supportive environments that boost reading achievement for all kinds of learners? Explore what effective literacy instruction looks like for our English language learners — and how to connect meaningfully with families. You’ll also find best-practice ideas on setting up inclusive classrooms, plus tips on providing whole-child literacy instruction for neurodiverse learners and deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Voices of experts
Learn from expert voices in the field about how to bring new research into your classroom. Watch our video interviews and webcasts with experts in foundational reading, writing, comprehension, neurodiversity, summer reading, children’s books, and more. You can also explore our Q&As on a wide range of literacy topics.
