Is More Reading Enough to Help Struggling Readers Build Essential Skills?

Heidi Lee
7 hours ago
3 min read

Is "more reading" really the answer for struggling readers?

In the education world, many believe that simply reading more will lead to better reading skills. I held this belief firmly for a large portion of my teaching career. When I taught fourth grade, I dedicated two hours daily for my students to read across all subjects, including novels, reading groups, social studies, and science. While my high-performing students flourished, my low-performing students struggled to show the same progress. This disparity prompted me to rethink whether simply increasing reading time was enough to help struggling readers.

The Limitations of Increased Reading Time

At first, I was confident that more reading equated to better reading skills. However, the results told a different story. My advanced readers excelled, often achieving grade-level proficiency and beyond, while my struggling readers displayed only modest gains. I started to question whether more reading alone could truly help students who were falling behind.

Research supports this concern. Sustained silent reading, often used to increase reading time, does not reliably improve fluency or comprehension for struggling readers, although it may benefit proficient readers (Reading Rockets, 2025). Similarly, independent reading alone tends to enhance vocabulary more than comprehension and is most effective for students who already have strong reading skills (Shanahan, 2025).

A Turning Point: The Wilson Reading Program

My approach changed dramatically after I pursued a reading specialist certification and completed an internship where I used the Wilson Reading Program for the first time. I saw firsthand how students who had struggled for years began to make significant, measurable progress. Kids who had not been able to read independently were now reading novels and decodable texts, practicing the foundational skills they needed to succeed. Parents were delighted with the changes in both confidence and test scores.

This experience taught me an important lesson: struggling readers need more than extra reading time. They require systematic, structured literacy instruction tailored to their needs.

The Importance of Structured Literacy

Structured literacy programs like the Wilson Reading System emphasize building foundational skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These programs provide explicit, systematic instruction that struggling readers need to succeed. Without these foundations, simply increasing reading time is unlikely to help students gain independence, comprehension, or confidence.

Once foundational skills are in place, students can begin improving higher-level reading skills. Comprehension involves connecting ideas, making inferences, and engaging deeply with text. Fluency allows students to read smoothly and accurately, which supports understanding. Structured literacy ensures that struggling readers have the tools to focus on these critical skills effectively.

Encouraging a Love for Reading

Fostering a love for reading is vital once students have the necessary skills. Encouraging choice in texts, offering reading challenges, and introducing diverse authors can help students develop a lasting passion for reading. Creating a supportive environment where students feel comfortable exploring and discussing texts further enhances their engagement and confidence.

Finding Balance for Success

While "more reading" seems like a simple solution, it cannot stand alone. Struggling readers need structured literacy first. The key is that these skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, are taught deliberately and in a logical order rather than expecting students to pick them up naturally through exposure or more reading. Research shows that struggling readers, especially students with dyslexia, benefit most from this kind of instruction because it gives them the tools to decode words and truly understand text.

Once these foundational skills are established, comprehension, fluency, and confidence can thrive. By combining systematic instruction with opportunities for independent reading and fostering a love of books, educators and parents can help all students succeed in their reading journeys.

I would love to hear from educators and parents. What strategies have you found effective for helping struggling readers? Share your experiences in the comments or reach out to connect.