You’ve built up your reluctant reader, and now they are choosing to read on their own! Fantastic! Now, how do you build your reader to feel capable of reading? These strategies are most effective for emerging readers, typically in kindergarten through 3rd grade, although they can also be adapted for older readers who struggle.

Start With Texts They Can Successfully Read

Research shows that “just-right texts,” books where your child can read about 90-95% of words independently with good comprehension, allow students to gain confidence and fluency in reading as they feel they are achievable. It enhances their enjoyment of reading, eliminating the hurdles of “can I do it?” while building their competence. For example, early readers might enjoy series such as Bob Books, I Can Read books (Levels 1-2), or Step into Reading (Steps 1-2). For more confident early readers, series like Fly Guy, Elephant & Piggie, or Magic Tree House provide engaging stories at accessible reading levels. If your reader begins to feel discouraged, choose text that is just one level below their instructional level so their confidence is rebuilt to sustain the challenge.

Celebrate the Small Wins

Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy states that confidence is built through four sources, the first being mastery experiences. When your child gets to a tricky word, reads a book on a new topic for them, or uses the context in the book to determine the meaning of a word, celebrate those moments! Celebration can be done through verbal praise (“You figured that out all by yourself!”), a special reading sticker chart, extra reading time with a favorite book, or a high-five. Tailor celebrations to what motivates each of your children.

Just Keep Reading

The National Reading Panel found that repeated reading improves not just comprehension and fluency but also confidence. Aim for 3-4 readings of the same text to build mastery. Re-read favorite books, have your child read pages to themselves before reading aloud, and try short poems to provide a variety of reading experiences. Picture books with rhythmic, repetitive text, like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? or We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, are perfect for repeated reading. So are beginning chapter book series where children can get comfortable with recurring characters and a predictable structure.

Consider Assisted Reading

When reading together, the older reader reads the sentence first, and then the emerging reader echoes the same sentence or reads together. To build reading independence, a variety of reading tools utilize assisted reading through reading “pens” or buttons in books, providing the emerging reader with the ability to read “alone” while confirming words or pronunciation along the way.

Build Vocabulary in Low-Stress Ways

Oftentimes, not knowing a word or a series of words can lead to a crisis of confidence while reading. Build vocabulary with a word-of-the-day or picture dictionary, providing exposure to vocabulary beyond reading a book.

Model Responding to Mistakes

Like many things in life, children learn from watching their parents. Parents misreading a word and then correcting it demonstrate that mistakes do not equal failure, but rather a learning experience.

Where United Through Reading Fits In

For military families specifically, you have the unique resource of the United Through Reading library, which has a vast catalog of books spanning a variety of interests. Sort through categories or ages together to choose appropriate and interesting books. The military service member can record themselves reading a book through the UTR app or at a Story Station to bridge the connection over distance. The reading parent can model mistakes, provide an “assisted reading session” by reading the book on video, and choose texts that will interest the reader. Distance doesn’t have to equal lack of connection, and reading together builds on connection and fosters a love of literacy.