Building Strong Readers: What to Do When a Student Struggles with Basic Reading Skills

(Note: This is Part 2 of an 8-week blog series called Building Strong Readers. If you haven't read Part 1, Key Literacy Skills & What to Do If There's a Weakness, be sure to do that first and then return to this blog post!)

When we think about helping students learn to read, our minds often jump straight to decoding or comprehension. But for some students, the struggle begins before they can even start sounding out words. These early difficulties often lie in what we call basic reading skills—the essential building blocks that make reading possible.

In this post, we’ll look at what basic reading is, how to recognize when a student needs support, and practical, research-aligned strategies to build these skills.

What Is Basic Reading?

Basic reading refers to the pre-reading skills that lay the groundwork for later reading success. According to the Science of Reading, children must develop a strong foundation in:

• Print awareness: understanding that printed text has meaning and that we read from left to right, top to bottom.

• Letter knowledge: recognizing letters by name and shape.

• Concepts of print: understanding how books work—like where a sentence begins, what a word is, and how to turn pages in order.

These skills are often developed in the early years (toddler years, preschool and kindergarten), but older students who missed out on early instruction may still need explicit support.

Signs of Weakness in Basic Reading Skills

Unsure if a student is struggling with these foundational skills? Here are some red flags to watch for:

• Difficulty naming letters - even those in their own name

• Limited awareness of print in books or the environment (they don’t “notice” signs or labels)

• Struggles to match sounds with letters - a skill essential for beginning phonics instruction

• Doesn’t track text left to right, or may not know where to start reading on a page

• May not understand the difference between a word, letter, or sentence
  
  

These challenges can lead to frustration or behavior issues during reading instruction—not because the child isn’t trying, but because the building blocks just aren’t solid yet.

What to Do: Strategies That Work

The good news? Foundational skills can be taught explicitly and systematically, and the earlier the better. Here's what research and best practices suggest:

1. Model Print Concepts During Read Alouds

Reading aloud is more than just story time—it’s a chance to teach print awareness in a natural and engaging way.

Here’s how:

• Point to words as you read to demonstrate directionality (left to right).

• Emphasize letter names and sounds in the context of the story (“Look at this big ‘M’ for Moose! 'm' says /m/”).

• Talk about book features: cover, title, author, where to start reading, spaces between words.

• Ask questions like, “Can you find a letter you know?” or “Where is the first word on this page?”
  
  

Tip: Use big books or project the text on a screen to make it easier for students to follow your finger as you track the print.

2. Teach Letter-Sound Correspondences Systematically

Children need to be taught which letter makes which sound, and this instruction should follow a logical sequence—starting with more common sounds (like /a/, /m/, /s/, /t/) before moving to less frequent ones.

• Use direct instruction: Don't assume kids will just "pick it up" from books. Teach one letter-sound at a time with repetition and review.

• Practice blending once students know a few sounds (m-a-t becomes mat).

If you'd like to learn more about best practices for teaching letters and sounds, check out our blog post, Rethinking How We Teach Letters and Sounds 😊

3. Incorporate Multisensory Activities

Multisensory methods help connect and strengthen the brain pathways involved in seeing, hearing, and physically forming letters. Try:

• Sand trays: Students use their finger to write a letter while saying the sound.

• Air/Sky writing: Trace large letters in the air while verbalizing the letter name and sound.

• Playdough letters: Shape letters with hands while discussing their name and sound.

• Tactile flashcards: Use textured letters for tracing and naming.
  
  

Tip: Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes) and frequent, focusing on 1 new letter at a time while reviewing known ones.

Tools and Materials to Have on Hand

• Alphabet charts (with visuals)

• Magnetic letters

• Whiteboards and markers

• Tactile letter cards (sandpaper, foam, etc.)

• Simple decodable books for letter-sound practice

• A variety of interactive read-alouds

   

For Teachers: Keep in Mind

• Don't skip the basics, even if your students are older. Foundational gaps can persist and will impact phonics, fluency, and comprehension.

• Repetition builds mastery. Go as fast as you can, but as slow as you must, and review skills often.

• Celebrate small wins—recognizing letters, naming a letter’s sound, tracking text—each of these is a building block toward independent reading.

   

Let's Wrap This Up

When students struggle with basic reading, it’s not because they’re lazy or incapable—it’s because they haven’t been taught yet. By focusing on foundational skills, modeling print concepts, and using multisensory strategies, we can give every student a strong start on their reading journey.

Building Strong Readers Reference Sheet (FREE DOWNLOAD!)

If you would like a printable version of these reading skills and strategies to apply when you spot a weakness, click the image below to download our free Building Strong Readers Reference Sheet!

The Resources You Need, All in ONE Membership!

We understand that purchasing resources one by one adds up fast—and as teachers, we know every dollar matters. That’s why our K-2 membership, Launching Literacy, is a smarter and more cost effective option. Our membership gives you everything you need for small group instruction—all in one place—so you can save time, money, and stress.

No more weekends wasted hunting for Science of Reading–aligned heart word resources, phonics lessons, and decodable texts. With Launching Literacy, you simply log in, choose the skill you want to teach, and instantly download detailed, ready-to-use lesson plans and activities.

In just a few clicks, your small group lessons are prepped and ready to teach—so you can spend less time planning and more time making an impact in your classroom. It’s planning made simple, effective, and affordable.

We hope that you found this blog post helpful! Whether you choose to join the membership or not, we are always here to help you in any way we can. Send us an email at: [email protected] with any questions you have!