Do you know how well your child is progressing with their reading skills? Becoming a strong reader involves mastering two critical areas: decoding (the ability to read words) and comprehension (the ability to understand what is being read). These two skills work together to build fluency and confidence in reading.
This ultimate reading skills checklist will help you assess where your child is excelling and where they might need a little extra practice. Use it regularly to track their progress, celebrate milestones, and focus on strengthening the skills they need most.
Is Your Child Reading Words Easily?
Here’s how to know if your child is developing strong decoding skills:
- Can my child recognize common letter sounds?
(For example: /b/, /d/, /s/) - Can they blend sounds together to read simple words?
(For example: “cat” = /k/ /a/ /t/) - Do they know common sight words?
(Examples: “the,” “and,” “is”) - Are they reading fluently without frequent pauses?
(Fluent reading means your child can read smoothly without having to stop often to sound out words.)
If your child is struggling with decoding, focus on practicing phonics and sight words to help them improve. Phonics activities and word games can make practicing fun and engaging!
Does Your Child Understand What They Read?
It’s crucial for your child to grasp the meaning behind the text and think critically about it.
Here’s how to tell if your child is building strong comprehension skills:
- Can my child explain what the story or passage was about?
(Encourage them to summarize the main idea in their own words.) - Can they answer questions about the story, such as “Who?” “What?” “Where?”
(For example: “Who is the main character? What happened in the story? Where did it take place?”) - Do they understand the message or lesson of the story?
(Ask if they can explain the main point or moral of the story.) - Can they predict what might happen next?
(Encourage them to make guesses based on the story’s events so far.)
Strong comprehension shows that your child is actively thinking about the story, not just reading the words on the page. This skill is vital for deeper understanding and critical thinking.
How to Use This Reading Skills Checklist
Tracking your child’s reading development doesn’t have to be complicated. With this reading checklist, you can easily see where they excel and where more practice is needed.
- Use the checklist regularly to monitor progress.
- Check off skills your child has mastered.
- Focus on areas that need improvement by incorporating reading activities that target those skills.
For decoding, focus on:
- Practicing phonics
- Recognizing sight words
- Reading aloud for fluency
For comprehension, focus on:
- Asking open-ended questions about the story
- Encouraging discussions about the book’s main idea or theme
- Helping them make predictions and think critically
By consistently using this checklist, you’ll help your child build essential reading skills and set them up for long-term success.
Final Thoughts
Mastering reading is a journey that involves both decoding and comprehension. Use this checklist to support your child’s progress, and celebrate each milestone they achieve along the way. The stronger these foundational skills become, the more confident and skilled your child will be as a reader.
Want more tips and activities to boost your child’s reading skills? Download my free guide, “The 5 Essential Areas of Reading At Home,” for more practical strategies to help your child succeed.