by Joan Celebi, Ed.M., CLC
Founder, SpecialNeedsParentCoach.com

I attended a class yesterday presented by a reading specialist, and it was an inspiring reminder that much can be done to help children succeed in school -- not just academically, but also socially, behaviorally, and emotionally -- by helping them develop their reading skills.

Good reading skills are of course absolutely crucial academically - at every stage of your child's age and abilities, from Kindergarten through 12th grade.  Because when you think about it, good reading skills are essential for a student to make progress in ALL subjects.  (Yes, even math!  We all know how tricky word problems can be, for instance.) 

But in addition to affecting academic progress, reading problems also affect students' behavior. Kids are more likely to act out when they're confused and aren't getting the material being given to them in class. Children's emotional well-being and self-esteem are also at stake as they ask themselves, "Why don't I get this, when other kids seem to be doing just fine?" In turn, behavior and emotional issues directly affect a child's social skills. Reading is at the core of a complex web of factors that contribute to a child's overall success.

Amazing things can be done for a child who is having difficulties with reading, even with students who are older.  Yesterday's presenter spoke of students in high school improving their reading skills by 2 or 3 grade levels in just a matter of months, with intensive remediation and consistent daily targeted work with a reading specialist.  The students' success in reading was spilling over into their academic subjects, as well as their self-confidence and their self-image, which in turn was helping with behavior issues, social concerns, and more.  This is very powerful stuff!

If your child is struggling in school, consider talking with your child's teacher, services coordinator, or IEP team about determining whether your child could benefit from some extra help with reading. One of the points that kept coming up yesterday is that students can seem like good readers, but still be missing key skills, especially in the area of comprehension.  It's a problem that can remain hidden -- and the longer it goes unaddressed, the more serious it becomes as academic content gets more complicated in later grades. 

Reading skills can be checked by your child's special education teacher or the reading specialist at your child's school.  Don't put this off  -- studies show that the quicker you can catch and address reading issues, the better off your child will be. 

ACTION STEP
If your child is struggling in school -- academically, behaviorally, socially, or emotionally -- and is not currently receiving extra help with reading, ask at school about checking his or her reading skills.