Unlock Your Child's Reading Confidence

July 2025

The Literacy Link is thrilled to partner with you in supporting your child's literacy journey! Reading confidence is a crucial foundation for lifelong learning and success. With the right encouragement and strategies, your child can unlock their full reading potential.

This Week’s Insight: Why Some Kids ‘Fake Read’- and what to do about it

It’s common for kids to look like they’re reading without fully understanding. This happens when decoding outpaces comprehension. The fix? Ask your child to tell you what just happened in a paragraph —and gently prompt when needed. Reading is more than sounding out words; it’s about making meaning.

From Our Literacy Specialist: My 2nd Grader Hates Reading Aloud –Should I Push It?

Short answer: gently encourage, but don’t force. Pair reading with something comforting (like a cozy blanket or a snack), and take turns reading sentences or pages. Model reading aloud and have them repeat after you using the same tone. Confidence builds when pressure drops.

Parent Tip: Turn Reading Into a Game

Try the “Reading Treasure Hunt.” Pick 5 words your child struggles with. Hide them around the house. Each time they find and read one, they earn a point. Low pressure, high fun — and sneaky learning!

Book Pick: Jory John’s “The Bad Seed”

An engaging picture book that opens the door to conversations about behavior, emotions, and empathy — all while boosting vocabulary

On Our Radar: New Research

• How background knowledge boosts fluency

• Literacy and ADHD: What to watch for

What’s “News” in Education?

Academic Performance

• Learning Loss - Reading and math scores for fourth and eighth graders remain below pre-pandemic proficiency levels. According to the Nation’s Report Card, or the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), as of 2024, only 31% of U.S. fourth graders and 30% of eighth graders are proficient in reading, and math showed little to no growth during the same period. (USAFACTS updated 4/17/2025)

• AI and Technology - AI is increasingly being integrated into education, with initiatives to train teachers, develop ethical guidelines for technology use, and explore its potential to personalize learning (eSchool News)

Mental Health and Student Well-Being

• Social Emotional Learning - There's a growing emphasis on social-emotional learning (SEL) to support students' emotional well-being and build resilience. Schools are looking for ways to provide comprehensive support for students, including access to mental health services.

Budget Cuts and Funding

• Impact on Programs: Budget cuts are leading to reductions in various educational programs, including those serving high-needs students. These cuts may disproportionately affect students from low-income backgrounds and those with disabilities.

  Student Loans - Colleges report major delays in financial aid and student loan processing. Millions of students who rely on federal assistance to pay for college each year are having issues getting the support they need due to Department of Education staff reduction layoffs. (USA Today).

Notable Developments: (USA Today)

• Debate Over School Choice - The debate regarding the role of school choice programs and their impact on public education rages on. There are increasingly more educational options available (public vs. charter, college vs. trade school), allowing families to select the right environment for their children, so you need to know the facts to make an informed choice.

• See You in Court! - Supreme Court ruled on June 27th that Maryland parents with religious objections can pull their kids from public school lessons using LGBTQ storybooks.

• New Legislation - 7 Arkansas families sued to block the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, while the Texas House approved a bill requiring all public school classrooms to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments.

• Religious Charter Schools? - On May 22nd, The U.S. Supreme Court split its vote considering state-funded religious charter schools, in essence upholding the Oklahoma State Supreme Court’s decision against the measure. (NEA Today)

Contact Us!

Have questions or need personalized advice? Email us anytime — we’re here to help! wordwiselit@gmail.com