What Does a Reading Specialist Actually Do With Elementary Kids?
When reading doesn't come easily, it can be tough on both kids and their families. Books become something to avoid instead of something to enjoy. A reading specialist is someone trained to help kids who are running into that kind of trouble. Whether the challenge is with sounding out words, understanding what was read, or simply staying focused, a reading specialist knows how to break things down and help kids move forward, step by step.
Knowing what a reading specialist actually does can be comforting for parents who see their child falling behind or losing confidence. It’s not just about extra reading time. It’s about figuring out what’s hard and responding in a steady, thoughtful way. In this post, we’ll share what reading specialists do, how they build trust, and why this kind of help can make such a difference for young learners.
What a Typical Session Looks Like
So what happens during a regular session? First, things move at the child’s pace. Sessions are one-on-one, which means no one else is there to compete with or compare to. The lesson feels calm, consistent, and paced just right for a child who might feel overwhelmed at school.
Here are a few things that often show up in a session:
• Phonics work to match letters with their sounds
• Spelling activities that bring in touch, sound, sight, and movement
• Guided reading practice to put skills into action with real text
• Review time to go back over tricky things until they feel smoother
These sessions might look simple from the outside, but every activity is chosen with care. The goal is to give kids tools they can use right away and build on over time. Every word spelled correctly, every passage read with a little more ease, brings a quiet kind of victory.
Sessions with a reading specialist are designed to be pleasant and low pressure. We make sure each child understands the purpose of what they’re doing. Some parts of the lesson might look familiar, but there’s always something tailored to your child’s current needs. If a certain skill seems tough, we break it down even further or spend extra time practicing with different materials until it clicks.
How Reading Specialists Identify What Help a Child Needs
One of the first things we do is pay close attention to what the child is doing during the session. Even small things, like guessing certain words, reversing letters, or needing extra time to respond, can tell us a lot about where they’re getting stuck.
We use a mix of short activities and informal checks to notice patterns. These might include:
• Listening to a child read aloud and watching where they pause
• Asking them to write sounds or spell quick words
• Having them identify letters or syllables in a word
This kind of observation helps us spot strengths and gaps. If a student is mixing up similar-looking letters, we work on that. If they can read well but don’t understand what they’ve read, the focus changes. Bit by bit, we put together a plan that fits where they are, not where someone else thinks they should be.
Regular feedback and notes allow us to track progress and make small adjustments as we go. We don’t just check off a list of skills. We notice patterns, where a child gets stuck, what strategies they use to figure out words, and whether comprehension seems strong or might need more support. By tuning into these small details each week, we create a record of growth over time.
Why Kids with Dyslexia or ADHD Often Work with a Reading Specialist
Kids with learning differences like dyslexia or ADHD often need more time and more chances to practice before things stick. That’s not because they’re not trying, it’s because their brains process things in a different way. A calm, one-on-one setting gives space to slow down, revisit, and reinforce things without stress.
Reading specialists often repeat similar steps from one session to the next so kids know what to expect. That predictability helps reduce anxiety and allows the real learning to take center stage. Over time, students begin to realize that mistakes aren’t a problem, they’re just part of getting better.
Even better, we don’t force one method on every student. If something doesn’t click, we change it. We meet students where they are, and we stay there with them while they work their way forward.
Many children with learning differences benefit from repeated small steps and consistent routines so they can gain confidence. With some extra support, kids with dyslexia can begin to connect sounds and symbols, building reading habits that become more automatic with practice. For kids with ADHD, consistent structure and brief, interactive tasks can make it easier to focus, remember directions, and follow through with challenging activities.
The Role of Trust and Connection in Reading Growth
Something shifts when a child begins to feel safe and seen. Reading specialists focus on building strong connections, because trust is what softens the pressure and fear that often comes with reading struggles. Without trust, it's harder for progress to take root.
Parents might start to notice changes at home, such as:
• Children picking up books without being asked
• Less pushback around reading homework
• More questions about stories or words they’re curious about
These small signs show that confidence is growing. It’s not always fast, and it doesn’t always look dramatic, but when a child believes someone is in their corner, their willingness to try again improves. That kind of effort opens more doors than any worksheet ever could.
We pay close attention to how kids respond to corrections or challenges. If we sense stress or frustration rising, we build in breaks or break big tasks into smaller ones. Our tone stays encouraging throughout the session. The best reading growth often comes from feeling connected with someone who wants to see your child do well, no matter how challenging things might seem at first.
Helping Kids Make a Smoother Transition Into Winter Learning
By December, classroom routines are well underway. Teachers are looking at progress, and mid-year benchmarks are just around the corner. If reading still feels sticky, this is a smart moment to give kids extra help so things don’t snowball later.
Structured sessions during the early winter months can do more than boost reading. They set the stage for stronger spelling, clearer writing, and more focus in the classroom. That kind of rhythm is especially helpful when the second half of the school year comes with longer assignments and higher expectations.
At Lamorinda Reads, we provide one-on-one instruction using the Slingerland Approach and multisensory methods, giving students with dyslexia and related challenges the extra support they need to thrive.
Building good habits now helps kids walk into the new year feeling more sure of themselves. Instead of catching up later, they’re ready when new material hits their desk. Winter is a fresh beginning and a chance for students to step into January with more confidence, having already built up skills that will carry them through the rest of the school year.
Learning Feels Better When It Starts to Make Sense
What reading specialists do may seem simple on the surface, but there's more to it than just reading out loud or practicing a list of words. Our sessions combine structure, observation, and connection, all woven together to help students make lasting progress. We look for what each student needs instead of following a fixed routine for everyone.
Reading growth doesn’t usually arrive in big leaps. It arrives in quiet wins, a hard word sounded out instead of skipped, a brave guess made without fear of being wrong. These moments stack up, and with time, they begin to change how a child sees reading and how they think about their own ability to grow. When families understand what’s happening in those sessions, it’s easier to stay patient and encouraged as progress builds.
At Lamorinda Reads, our sessions focus on patience, clarity, and the individual needs of each student. Support from a trusted professional can make a world of difference for children who are struggling with reading or feeling uncertain in the classroom. One-on-one time with a reading specialist helps kids slow down, feel understood, and build lasting skills. We’re here for families in and around Lafayette, California, providing steady progress through structure and encouragement. Reach out to our team to get started.
