How Kids Learn to Read

At a Glance: Helping Kids Learn to Read

• Teachers use phonemes and phonics to teach kids to connect sounds to letters and letter combinations, which lets them decode written words.
• Children must also develop comprehension and vocabulary so they understand what they’re reading.
• Parents can help by reading aloud, keeping books at home, and practicing letter-sound connections.
• Though all kids learn to read at their own pace, first grade is an important year for reading development.
• Early intervention is key if your child is struggling with reading.

Learning to read is one of the most exciting milestones in early childhood. Sometimes, it’s also one of the most daunting. As parents, we want to do everything we can to help our kids develop this crucial life skill. But the question is: how?

What actually happens when a kid is learning to read?

And how can parents help?

When it comes to kids learning to read, understanding and support from their parents can make all the difference.

The Research Behind Reading

Reading isn’t something that just happens naturally. It has to be taught. And after decades of research, experts agree on one major finding.

Kids need clear and direct instruction to become successful readers.

“Reading is arguably the most researched aspect of human learning,” says Emily Solari, Ph.D., Edmund H. Henderson Professor of Education and Director of Virginia Literacy Partnerships at the University of Virginia. “Learning to read requires a systematic approach where children are directly taught how letters and sounds work together.”

“Importantly,” Solari adds, “learning to read is not the same as language development. While language development starts early, with children picking up the ability to understand spoken language and communicate, reading is a skill that requires direct instruction.”

Solari notes that one common myth is that learning to read is simply about memorizing words. However, research consistently shows that reading involves more than just recognizing words by sight.

What Happens in the Brain When Kids Learn to Read

“Reading is primarily about decoding, or sounding out words based on letter-sound relationships,” says Solari. “A focus on phonics, phonemic awareness, and word decoding strategies is essential for developing strong reading skills. Memorization alone doesn’t equip children to read new or unfamiliar words.”

Cathy Podagrosi is an elementary reading specialist in Albemarle County. She shares that schools across the country are embracing research-backed literacy strategies that better align with how the brain learns to read. Phonics is a big part of this. This system of decoding helps kids make the connection between letters, letter combos, and the sounds they make.

“Letters and letter combinations are stored in the back of the brain, in the occipital lobe,” Podagrosi says. “Sounds are stored in the front of the brain, the frontal lobe.”

When students learn phonics, she explains, they start to make connections between these two areas. This happens through a part of the brain called the parietal lobe. Podagrosi calls this the reading road. She also notes that students need additional instruction in word meaning, spelling, and language comprehension. All these work together to help kids become successful readers and writers.

Local Authors & Illustrators in the Charlottesville Area

Research shows that just having books in the home can increase kids’ lifelong learning outcomes. Luckily for all of us, Charlottesville has a thriving literary community. Our area is home to talented authors and illustrators who create engaging books for young readers. Here are a few to check out.

• Ainsley Bloomfield: Bloomfield recently illustrated Oma Always Says Yes by Robi Keyes. She is also the illustrator and author of Greycat’s Alphabet.
• Marc Boston: A former Charlottesville local who now lives in New York with his family, Boston continues to write for CharlottesvilleFamily magazine. He is the author of The Girl Who Carried Too Much Stuff, What About Me? and A Promise to Grow.
• Jay Bradford: A Charlottesville-based author recognized for her contributions to financial literacy and children’s education. Bradford’s most notable work is Mahogany Goes to Wall Street.
• Suzanne Tanner Chitwood: A children’s book illustrator from Charlottesville, VA, Chitwood is the author and illustrator of Wake Up, Big Barn!
• Hannah Barnaby:Charlottesville-based Barnaby has written many books for young readers. Her work includes the Monster & Boy chapter book series, as well as lyrical picture books like The Pumpkin Seed’s Secret and The Pine Cone’s Secret.
• Lindsay Heider Diamond:A professional artist, graphic designer, and illustrator based in Charlottesville, Diamond is known for illustrating Who Am I? by Keith A. Chambers.
• Kathy Erskine:Based in Charlottesville, VA, Erskine is an acclaimed author of children’s and young adult novels. She is the author of Mockingbird, The Absolute Value of Mike and Seeing Red.
• Cara Goodwin:Based in Charlottesville, VA, Dr. Goodwin is known for writing What to Do When You Feel Like Hitting.
• Mary E. Lyons:An author from Charlottesville, VA, known for her works in children’s literature, Lyons is the author of Stitching Stars: The Story Quilts of Harriet Powers and Catching the Fire: Philip Simmons, Blacksmith.
• Anne Marie Pace: Best known for Vampirina Ballerina, which inspired the Disney Junior TV series, Pace lives with her family in Charlottesville, VA.

The Basics of Reading: Phonemes and Phonics

So we know reading is more than memorization and must be taught. But how do we actually teach it?

The reading process involves two very important steps that each build on the one before it: phonemes and phonics.

Teachers first start with helping students develop phonemic awareness. This is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds, known as phonemes, in spoken words. This part is purely auditory and doesn’t involve written letters.

According to Podagrosi, “This skill is key for both reading and spelling and is the strongest predictor of reading ability.”

To help her students connect letter sounds, Podagrosi uses a mix of auditory and visual drills in the classroom. They also practice blending sounds together. This makes it easier for them to read words more smoothly as they progress.

“New concepts are explicitly taught and anchored on a sound wall for students to refer to later,” says Podagrosi. “The sound wall has pictures of the mouth movements required to make a sound, and a letter and picture clue as well, so that students can refer back to this when reading and writing independently.”

Once your child has a strong foundation in phonemic awareness, they’re ready to move on to phonics. Phonics builds on this foundation by connecting those sounds to written letters and letter combinations. This allows children to begin decoding words when reading.

For example, they learn that the letter m makes the /m/ sound, that sh makes the /sh/ sound, and that u can make a short /ʌ/ sound like in the word up. Then, when they see the word mush written out, students can decode the combination of letters. They know how to sound out /m/ – /ʌ/ – /sh/ to read, “mush.”

Learning to Understand

However, reading is about more than just letters and sounds. It’s also about understanding what those words mean.

Solari introduces a helpful framework called the Simple View of Reading. This breaks reading into two key parts: decoding (sounding out words) and comprehension (understanding what those words mean).

To become strong readers, kids need both skills.

“Teachers need to provide clear, structured instruction in skills like alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness, and phonics to help students decode words,” says Solari.

But it doesn’t stop at decoding. Linguistic comprehension, or the ability to understand the meaning behind the words, is equally important.

For example, once a child can sound out the word cat, they also need to understand that it refers to an animal they might encounter in a story. Without this understanding, they can read the word but miss the bigger picture. This is where vocabulary and background knowledge come into play.

Solari emphasizes that children need both decoding skills and comprehension to truly make sense of what they read. Teachers also help build comprehension. They introduce vocabulary and background knowledge through activities like read-alouds and oral language.

As Solari points out, comprehension is the ultimate goal. It allows kids to absorb new ideas, think critically, and connect with the world around them.

“Understanding what you read sets the foundation for all other academic and social pursuits,” adds Solari.

How Parents Can Support Reading at Home

Parents play a critical role in nurturing their child’s reading skills. There are plenty of simple, yet effective, strategies you can use at home to foster a love of reading and improve your child’s reading.

One of the best ways to help is to make reading a regular part of their daily routine. The more opportunities they have to practice, the more confident they’ll become.

“Learning to read is a fun and exciting time for children,” says Solari. The strategies she recommends are simple and effective: reading aloud with kids, having meaningful conversations, and making sure books are available at home. “The earlier and more regularly children are exposed to these activities, the better equipped they will be for success in reading and overall learning.”

Reading aloud helps kids build their vocabulary and comprehension skills. It also creates a positive connection with reading. When children hear stories often, they tend to develop a love for reading and a better understanding of how stories are structured. These early experiences play a big part in setting them up for success later on.

“Reading aloud to children is one of the most powerful ways to support literacy,” says Solari.

Other Ways to Support Reading at Home

Play with sounds in words.

Try separating and blending sounds in simple words (e.g., cat, dog, sun). This can help children build phonemic awareness.

Practice letter-sound connections.

Repetition is key. Use auditory and visual drills to help children connect sounds with the corresponding letters.

Use sound boxes, also known as Elkonin boxes.

These are simple tools that help children segment words into individual sounds, making it easier to understand how letters combine to form words.

Read aloud frequently.

Reading aloud is one of the most powerful ways to support literacy. As you read, discuss the story with your child and ask questions to encourage understanding.

Make books available.

Surround your child with books, and make them easily accessible. The more your child sees reading as a regular part of daily life, the more they’ll engage with it.

Learning to Read: When to Get Help

Every child develops reading skills at their own pace. But some may need extra support along the way.

Research shows that first grade is especially important for reading development. In Virginia, parents of public school students can access early literacy data through the Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS). This assessment is given to students in kindergarten, first, and second grades. It helps identify kids who might be at risk for reading challenges.

“If children are at high risk, parents should be notified and a student reading plan is developed to meet the child’s specific literacy needs,” adds Solari.

If you think your child might need extra help as they learn to read, start by talking to their teacher. They may recommend time with the school’s reading specialist or recommend additional resources. Remember, early intervention is key when it comes to reading challenges.

And no matter how well your kids are reading on their own, keep reading together. It’s one of the best ways to raise thoughtful, curious kids who grow up to be readers.

Charlottesville loves books! Explore more local kid-lit authors, including middle-grade and YA. Check out our local book festivals, including Crozet Book Fest and Virginia Festival of the Book. And don’t forget to join the next meeting of our CharlottesvilleFamily book club.

AMANDA DANAHER is a busy mom of five who is passionate about encouraging other parents through her writing. She focuses on freelancing for Virginia parent and family magazines where she can utilize her journalism degree and share her parenting experience.