2 Out of 3 Kids Read Below Grade Level, yet 90% of Parents Think Their Kids Are on Track

We cannot deny that struggling readers exist in every grade level; however, there is an obvious disconnect between assessment scores and what parents know. The Nation’s Report Card shows that only about 34% of Grade 4 students are at or above proficient with reading skills.

Surprisingly, few parents are aware of this; 90% believe that their kids are performing at or above grade level with reading. A survey by Learning Heroes showed that most parents, regardless of geography, income, educational level, or race, do not have an accurate picture of their child’s reading proficiency. 

Despite this, experts believe that we can solve this disparity. If we, as parents, become more involved in learning, we become more informed and empowered about how our emerging readers are performing.

First, let’s take a look at why many learners are not staying on track with their reading. 

Learning Loss Is Real

Because of the pandemic, kids have already fallen behind by up to two decades with their reading and math skills. And sadly, this is not the only cause of learning loss.   

We observed that when kids are unable to put their literacy skills to practice during summer breaks, they can lose as much as two months worth of reading. We identify this as the Summer Slide, and this causes learners to fall behind their peers by the time the new school year starts. 

For kids in earlier grade levels, learning loss effects compound year after year. By the time kids reach Grade 4, they are not at par with their peers with literacy skills. The Fourth Grade Reading Slump, as educators call it, happens when a learner is unable to fluently read and comprehend text. They tend to struggle decoding information from words, leading them to become frustrated and even discouraged to continue.

When children feel that they are falling behind, they lose confidence and interest in learning. In later school years, this can lead to lower attendance rates, poor performance, and possibly even dropping out. 

Parents and Information

Experts say, for parents to be more equipped to support their learners, they need access to understandable, accurate, and actionable information. We cannot rely on report cards alone to determine the levels kids are performing at. Teachers admit that they have more data to share with parents, but school report cards are not enough to document them.

According to the Poverty Action Lab, when parents are well-informed about their kids’ academic performance, they become highly involved and take action. This greatly improves the learning outcomes of students. 

Hoot Reading believes in the importance of assessments. Sharing information from pre and post evaluations from reading lessons will paint a clearer picture for parents to understand where their kids are at. Whether a reader is struggling or not, the parent and teacher will be able to work together to focus on areas that need attention. 

When it comes to improving learning outcomes, Hoot Reading takes it a step further with its evidence-based tutoring approach. Learn more about what Hoot Reading’s programs offer.

Learning Recovery with Hoot Reading

Providing learning support can bring emerging readers back on track with their goals. Kids from Grades 1 to 3 make significant gains from high-dosage reading tutoring, and at Hoot Reading, our goal is to make our lessons as accessible as possible - even from the comfort of home.

The Hoot Reading Teacher Network is fully-equipped to cater to readers from every grade level. With every 20-minute interactive, one-to-one online lesson, a child’s reading abilities can advance significantly. This personalized approach allows a reader to be focused on the task, to be engaged, and to be more confident in reading aloud. 

A New York University study has found that children who use Hoot Reading improve their literacy skills by up to 152% compared to those who do not. As a supplement to regular classroom instruction, our programs are proven to be effective in boosting reading skills in as little as 12 to 15 lessons.   

The road to learning recovery may not be a short route, but we can take the necessary steps now. 

Begin your journey to improve your child’s literacy skills, sign up for a Free First Lesson today.