How a Reading Specialist Looks at Learning Gaps
Kids do not all learn the same way. Some pick up reading skills right away. Others move more slowly or miss a few steps along the way. That is normal. But when those missed steps start to pile up, a child might begin to feel frustrated, confused, or left behind. Often, these things build quietly over time. By the time someone notices, the gap can feel big.
This is where a reading specialist comes in. We are trained to notice the small things others might miss. We pay close attention to how each child learns and what might be getting in the way. Then we start to piece together what is missing, so the child can start gaining ground again. It is not magic. It is thoughtful, ongoing support that meets kids where they are. And it is one of the clearest ways to help them feel more confident in the classroom.
What a Learning Gap Really Means
A learning gap is just that, a missing piece. It is when a child did not fully grasp something earlier on, and now that small thing is making new learning feel harder than it should. Sometimes, kids memorize words instead of learning how to sound them out. Some mix up letters or avoid reading entirely. Maybe their spelling does not match what they can say out loud. These are not signs they cannot learn. They are signs that something was skipped or never clicked.
In early elementary grades, learning gaps can sneak by because children are great at hiding what they do not know. They might guess what a word is based on the first letter or a picture. Over time, these workarounds stop working. By then, a child may have lost some confidence and feel like other kids are moving ahead.
If no one spots the pattern or gives the right support, those gaps grow. Reading feels harder than it has to be. Writing becomes stressful. And school, a place meant to build excitement, starts to feel overwhelming. That is why early attention to these gaps matters. It makes the path forward much smoother.
How a Reading Specialist Finds the Gaps
When working with a student, the first thing a reading specialist does is slow things down and start listening. We talk to the parents, the child, and sometimes the teacher. We look at reading work, writing samples, spelling tests, and more. Then we notice patterns.
A reading specialist does not just look at where a child is now. We look at how they got there too. We use careful observation and age-appropriate tools to figure out what pieces might be missing. Is the child struggling with phonics? Does their reading sound choppy? Are sounds and symbols not connecting as they should? Even when the gap shows up as a reading problem, it is often connected to writing or spelling too.
This process is not rushed. Some students need time to feel safe enough to try. Others need activities that match how they learn best, through movement, visuals, or sound. That is where multisensory learning comes in. When we connect the dots and understand how a child thinks about reading, we begin to close the distance between where they are and where they should be.
Why Gaps Look Different for Each Child
Learning to read is not always a straight line. No two children have the exact same kind of gap. Some might confuse similar-looking letters like b and d. Others might remember whole words but struggle to break them apart by sound. Some children may read confidently but cannot explain what they read. There are kids who can sound out a word but spell it completely differently.
These differences often connect to how a brain processes information. Children with ADHD may have trouble holding on to multi-step directions. Others may have differences in memory and find it hard to match sounds and letters. Even reading speed or frustration level can point to different needs.
We pay close attention to the type of difficulty a student is having. There is no one-size-fits-all plan. The first step is recognizing what is missing and what is working, so we can build from there. Understanding how a child learns best gives a clear starting point.
What Happens After the Gaps Are Found
Once the gaps are found, we begin to fill them in. That means going back to missed steps and teaching them again, but in a way that sticks this time. We often use structured literacy approaches like Slingerland or Orton-Gillingham. These methods break reading and writing into small steps and use many senses while teaching.
For example, if matching sounds to letters is the issue, we may have the child say the sound, write the letter, and trace it at the same time. Over time, repeating these techniques helps the connection become more natural. Early progress may be slow, but it builds. What starts as small gains becomes real change.
Families are always reminded of this: filling in learning gaps takes patience and encouragement. But it works. As children see that spelling is getting easier or reading feels less scary, their attitude toward school starts to improve at every level.
A Caring Look at Growth, Not Gaps
It is easy to focus on what a child is missing. But the real focus should be on where they are growing. Learning gaps do not define what a child can do. They show where we need to give more support. When we shift our thinking from gaps to growth, it changes the outlook for everyone, child and adult alike.
This season, as report cards and parent-teacher meetings start to appear, is a good time to reflect. If reading still feels off, or a child is not connecting with reading as expected, asking questions and looking closer is always worthwhile.
Every child deserves to feel confident as a learner. With patient support, careful attention, and the right approach, like the Slingerland Method at Lamorinda Reads, growth is within reach. Step by step, we help kids make steady, confident progress.
When reading still feels hard and your child isn’t making the kind of progress you'd expect, it helps to take a closer look with support that actually fits how they learn. At Lamorinda Reads, we work with families to understand what’s getting in the way and how to build steady gains over time. Whether it’s decoding, spelling, or confidence that needs work, a reading specialist can help make the path forward clearer, and a little less stressful for everyone.
