Son has always struggled with reading. It’s been a long and painful journey, but in the first lockdown with lots of practice, 1-1, phonics etc he made progress. His reading age was still two years under his actual age but it felt like he was making progress and gaining confidence. We have consistently read once a day and since this lockdown many times a day. His reading has deteriorated despite this. His speed has increased and he guesses half the words he read preciously - even words like “for’ “if” etc. I’m trying to encourage slowing down, sounding out etc. If he doesn’t know a word now he won’t even try to attempt.
Is it normal for children who are emerging readers to have periods when they go backwards before they go forwards again? I’ve tried today reading books with him that I know he read with few errors this time last year and he’s definitely making more guesses (wanted to check it wasn’t that my expectations have risen!). We’ve ruled out dyslexia (been screened) and eyesight issues.
We’ve invested so much in helping him that I’m finding it hard not to get frustrated and really hard to let not let this show.
Any advice / experience on how we can support.