5 Reasons Parents Need to Understand How Reading Works
Why do parents need to understand reading? Your ability to advocate for your child’s reading needs is directly tied to how well you understand how reading works. Your knowledge is your child's greatest asset.
PARENT ADVOCACY COLLECTION
Why Parents Need to Understand How Reading Works
If you are a parent wondering how reading works, whether your child’s school is teaching reading correctly, or why your child is still struggling even though they seem fine in class—you are exactly where you need to be. And we’re glad you’re here!
There’s something you need to know: Your ability to support and advocate for your child’s reading is directly tied to how well you understand reading development.
If you want to be an effective reading advocate for your child, you need a basic understanding of the science of reading, basic knowledge of the different ways reading is taught in schools, and be able to spot what high-quality reading instruction actually looks like in practice. That’s what we, A Parent's Advantage, are here to give you.
1. Schools Don’t Always Teach Reading Correctly
One would hope that every classroom in America is using up-to-date, evidence-based reading instruction. Unfortunately, many classrooms still rely on outdated reading approaches that encourage children to guess words using pictures, context, or memorization instead of teaching them how to decode. While these methods can appear engaging and effective, they may mask reading difficulties early on. Even more, research shows they do not provide the instruction most children need and they place struggling readers at an even greater disadvantage.
In contrast, letter- and sound-based instruction aligns with how the brain learns to read. Yet despite decades of reading research, these outdated approaches are still used in nearly every classroom in America. It may seem harmless but at best it's a waste of time and at worst it can confuse struggling readers.
This is why it matters that parents understand how reading should be taught—not just what schools say they’re doing, but what’s actually happening instructionally.
2. Knowing High-Quality Instruction, Helps You Spot Poor Instruction
With the knowledge that many classroom still use outdated approaches that are ineffective for most struggling readers, you cannot assume that your child is getting the highest-quality instruction. To advocate effectively, you need to know what high-quality reading instruction and low-quality instruction look like. Knowing the reading science can help you spot these things.
In strong early reading instruction:
Phonemic awareness happens daily (even if briefly)
Systematic phonics takes up a significant portion of reading time in K–2
Fluency practice occurs regularly
Vocabulary and background knowledge are taught intentionally
If these elements are missing—or happening inconsistently, “sometimes,” or only “when it fits the unit”—that’s a red flag. And it may be the reason your child is struggling.
When reading difficulties appear, instruction is the first place parents should look. Having the ability to properly assess reading instruction can avoid misdiagnosis, unnecessary labeling, and harming your child's self-esteem around reading.
2. Understanding the Science of Reading Empowers Parents in School Meeting
It is very hard to advocate when you feel like teachers are speaking a language you don’t know. Having a good understanding of reading science can help you can ask meaningful questions and say clearly what you want for your child. When you understand terms like phoneme, grapheme, orthographic mapping, or decodable text, you are a much more effective advocate. You’re no longer the parent hoping the “experts” make the right decision. You are informed and able to ask questions like:
“What phonics scope-and-sequence are you using?”
“How are you supporting phonemic awareness this year?”
“How much decodable text practice do students get each week?”
“What specific fluency routines are in place?”
And, more importantly, you’ll know what answers to look for. Knowing the science and language of reading instruction gives you power — not to be combative, but to be informed, confident, and clear about what your child needs.
4. You Can Understand How and Why Your Child Struggles with Reading
Not all reading difficulties are the same. They are a variety of causes and tend to fall into three categories:
If you don’t understand these categories, you can’t meaningfully interpret testing, teacher comments, or reading assessments. This knowledge helps prevent unnecessary mislabels and ensures real needs aren’t ignored. It also helps parents avoid the very common trap of assuming something is “wrong” with their child and gives them a starting point when trying to help.
5. No One Knows Your Child Better Than You
Teachers see your child for a snapshot. But you see the whole movie.
That means:
You know whether they struggle with sleep, attention, or eating (all can relate to reading difficulties)
You understand their interests and quirks
You can tell when something is off
You can see patterns a school may miss
So your voice actually matters most – but only if you’re armed with information that positions you as a partner, not a bystander. When you understand reading science, you stop feeling like you’re “interfering,” and start realizing you are an essential part of the decision-making team.
This is what we call A Parent's Advantage — the power you have when you combine deep knowledge of your child with deep knowledge of what they need instructionally.
The Parent Advantage: How Reading Science Gives Parents Real Power
Parents often hesitate to speak up because they don’t want to offend the teacher. But advocacy isn’t about blaming – it’s about naming. You’re not saying, “You’re teaching wrong.” You’re saying, “Here are specific elements my child needs to thrive. How can we make sure they’re in place?” This is reasonable, collaborative and effective.
The reality is that schools are overworked and often undertrained, and ineffective reading instruction can derail a child for years — but effective instruction can change the brain itself.
The combination of your insight about your child and your knowledge of reading science is the most powerful tool your child has. This is the Parent Advantage. And it starts with knowing how reading actually works.
Convinced yet? If you are curious to learn about how reading works and how you can help your child, we are here to help! Make sure you sign up for our free Empowered Parents Community Newsletter below to receive free reading science education designed specifically for parents, and to get discount codes for our other resources.
For more education that will equip you to be the best parent-advocate you can be, consider checking out our course (coming soon!), A Parent's Advantage in Teaching Struggling Readers. It will give recommendations on how to examine your child’s reading curriculum with a critical eye, how to talk with their school about the curriculum, and even how to give higher-quality reading support at home than they could get at school because of your Parent Advantage.
If you have already begun your reading advocacy journey and need support navigating the school system or giving reading supports at home but need more tailored advice, please book a consultation with us! We can hear your situation and give you some specific next steps!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Science of Reading and Parent Advocacy
What is the science of reading in simple terms?
The science of reading is a body of research that explains how the brain learns to read and which instructional methods are most effective. It shows that reading is not natural and must be explicitly taught through phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. For more, read here.
How can I tell if my child’s school is using the science of reading?
You can ask whether the school uses structured literacy, systematic phonics, and decodable texts in early reading instruction. Schools aligned with the science of reading can clearly explain their phonics scope-and-sequence and how they teach phonemic awareness. For more, read here.
Is balanced literacy bad for all children?
Balanced literacy may work for some children, but research shows it is not effective for most students, especially struggling readers. Because it relies heavily on guessing strategies instead of decoding, many children fail to build strong word-reading skills. For more, read here.
Why is my child struggling with reading even though they get good grades?
Grades do not always reflect reading skill development. Many children can compensate by memorizing words or using context clues, which hides decoding weaknesses. Without strong foundational reading instruction, these gaps often surface later. For more, read here.
Can poor reading instruction look like a learning disability?
Yes. In many cases, children appear to have a reading disability when the real issue is ineffective or inconsistent instruction. This is why instruction quality should always be examined before assuming a diagnosis. For more, read here.
What should I ask my child’s teacher about reading instruction?
Ask about phonics instruction, phonemic awareness routines, use of decodable texts, and how reading progress is measured. Clear, specific answers usually indicate high-quality reading instruction. For more, read here.
How can parents advocate for their child’s reading without being confrontational?
Effective advocacy focuses on clarity, not blame. Parents can name the instructional elements their child needs and ask how the school plans to support them, positioning themselves as informed partners rather than critics. For more, read here.