Back-to-School Success: A Parent’s Guide for Supporting Struggling Readers

As summer winds down, many parents begin thinking about how to set their children up for success in the coming school year. For many parents, this is thinking way beyond the school supply list. If your child struggles with reading, this transition can bring extra worries: Will they fall further behind? Will their teacher understand their needs?

The good news is—there ARE ways to start strong.

Here’s a simple, 5-step checklist to help you prepare your child—and yourself—for a confident return to school:

Back-to-School Checklist for Parents of Struggling Readers ✅

1. Rebuild the Reading Routine
   Start easing back into daily reading habits—even 10–15 minutes a day makes a difference. Let your child choose books, graphic novels, or audiobooks that interest them to spark engagement.

2. Review Progress and Set Goals
   Take time to reflect on your child’s reading progress over the summer. Celebrate small wins, and write down 1–2 specific reading goals together, like “read one chapter book this month” or “learn 5 new sight words a week.” Some schools and grade levels encourage summer reading, and some will already have a list prepared of books or novels they will be reading over the course of the school year. Reach out the to campus and ask if there is a book they can start reading early, or preview, prior to the start of school. This can give struggling readers a boost of confidence in class because they will be familiar with the story, and can get the gist of what’s happening, even if they struggle to keep up with the high demands of reading in class.

3. Create a Visual Schedule or Reading Spot
   Structure builds confidence. Set up a cozy reading space and establish a calm after-school routine that includes time for reading practice, without pressure.

4. Refresh Key Tools
   Stock up on tools your child may need: bookmarks, highlighters, finger trackers, or word cards. Consider apps or programs used during the year and ask if there are any to practice with ahead of time. Don’t despise your kiddo asking you “what does this word mean?” If they’re asking, they’re learning! This helps build word knowledge and vocabulary!

5. Proactively Connect with the Teacher
   This can be a source of anxiety for parents. You worry that you by reaching out early you will send the wrong message, but as a teacher myself, I can tell you we LOVE parents who want to be involved with their kid’s education! After you learn who your kiddo’s teacher will be, before or just after school starts, reach out to the teacher introducing yourself and sharing a brief summary of your child’s reading strengths, challenges, and what’s worked in the past. Ask how you can support their work at home. This shows partnership—not pressure. Don’t be afraid to wait a few minutes to talk to the teacher during those “Meet the Teacher” nights and schedule pick-ups. Fill out the questionnaires, include as much info as you can. Request the conferences. The more we can learn about your kiddo before the start of school, the better and faster we are able to understand them, and help them settle in to our classes. It helps us know when and how to approach them, what challenges they face, and where we can start so we can set them up for success the rest of the year.

✏️ Sample Conversation Starter:

"Hi [teacher’s name], I’m [Your Name], and I’m [Child's Name]’s parent. Reading has been a challenge in the past, but we’ve seen progress when [they use a reading tracker/read out loud together/etc.]. I’d love to partner with you this year—please let me know if there’s anything we can do at home to stay consistent with what’s happening in class.”

Final Thought 💭:

Remember, you don’t need to fix everything before the first bell rings. What matters most is showing your child—and their teacher—that you’re engaged, supportive, and ready to work together. Your presence and consistency will help build the confidence every struggling reader needs to grow.