Reading and writing are essential skills that start with first grade. If your child has started second grade and is still having trouble with reading or writing, there are a few factors to consider. Your child may simply be a “late reader,” or there could be something else going on under the surface.
Signs of Struggling
There are several signs your child may be struggling with reading and writing.
- Your child has not mastered letters and their sounds.
- They cannot blend sounds or rhyme.
- They can’t memorize sight words.
- Your child can’t edit their own writing.
- Their reading and writing scores are lower than in other subjects.
- Your child says they don’t like reading, writing, or both.
- Their spelling doesn’t match word sounds at all.
Feedback from their teacher is also an essential source of information. Your child’s teacher will have insight into what your child is having trouble with, whether it’s specific areas or reading and writing as a whole.
How You Can Help
There are lots of fun and helpful things you can do to help your child with reading and writing.
- Talk to your child’s teacher or doctor. If you are noticing signs of learning difficulties like dyslexia, talk with your child's teacher. the next step is to visit your doctor to get a professional opinion.
- Ask your child what they like. Giving your child plenty of options to read about topics they like can help get them into reading. Similarly, if they are interested in what they are writing about, that can help them practice their writing skills.
- Give them creative ways to communicate. If your child isn’t engaged with writing right away, try having them draw, paint, or sculpt, then tell you all about their creation. After they tell you about it, have them write down their ideas. This gives them extra communication practice that’s fun for them.
- Enroll in Genie Academy. Genie Academy’s teachers and programs are fun and engaging for students at all reading levels. They can learn foundational skills such as phonics, letter sounds, spelling, and writing mechanics that they may have missed. Their writing topics are also fun for all students, with teachers giving kind and helpful feedback. This will help boost their confidence and independence.
Learning language arts is an important part of second grade. When they get to third grade, they will have to write even more and read more complicated books. It’s important to get them going before they reach the end of second grade so they are well prepared to be independent learners.
Sources: https://www.homereadinghelper.org/2nd-grade-struggling-readers/
