Questions to Ask Your Child's Teacher About Reading Instruction

We're once again at report card time, which can be a stressful time for many families. Parent-teacher conversations about reading can sometimes feel vague: lots of words, but not much specific information about what's actually happening and whether it's working. Here are concrete questions to ask that will help you understand exactly what instruction your child is receiving in the classroom and whether it's aligned with what research supports.

About the Approach

Ask, 'How is phonics taught in this classroom? Is there a specific scope and sequence?' Strong programs follow a systematic, explicit sequence. If the answer is 'we use phonics when it comes up in reading,' that's a signal that the approach may not be as structured as it could be.

Ask: 'Are students taught to decode, or to use context clues and pictures to guess at words?' Research is clear that guessing strategies undermine reading development. Students should be taught to decode.

About Your Child Specifically

Ask: 'What phonics patterns has my child mastered, and what is the current focus?' If the teacher can answer this specifically, that's a good sign. If it's vague, you may want to request a more detailed progress report.

Ask: 'How is my child's oral reading fluency tracking compared to benchmarks?' Fluency is one of the most reliable indicators of overall reading health. Knowing how your child compares to grade-level expectations is important.

If You're Concerned

Ask: 'What interventions are available if my child doesn't respond to classroom instruction?' and 'What would trigger a referral for additional support?' You have the right to understand the support pathway clearly.

At Halifax Learning, we often work with families alongside school-based supports. We're happy to help you prepare for teacher conversations or understand assessment results.

Have a parent-teacher meeting coming up and want help preparing? Reach out to our team! We're here to support families at every step.