If your middle or high schooler avoids books, argues about homework, or insists they’re just not a reader, this episode is for you. We’re digging into reading motivation for older kids and, most importantly, how to motivate your kids to read without constant battles or guilt trips.

In this episode of The Literacy Keys, Tracy breaks down why so many secondary students are still struggling with foundational reading skills and what makes teens’ reading challenges very different from younger kids’. You’ll hear how low confidence, slow fluency, and intimidating multisyllabic words in subjects like science and social studies slowly drain motivation. Best of all, this episodes shares what you can do to rebuild reading motivation at home.

Drawing on a powerful Education Week article about secondary reading struggles and the book Know Better, Do Better by Meredith & David Liben, Tracy explains why it’s never too late to become a better reader, and why age-appropriate materials, targeted fluency work, and mindset shifts matter so much for teens. You’ll walk away with practical, realistic strategies you can start using right away.

Whether your child is barely reading, reading very slowly, or simply refusing to try, this episode on reading motivation shares how to motivate kids to read. If you’ve been feeling stuck, discouraged, or unsure where to start, this conversation will give you a concrete plan to help your older child see themselves as a reader.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Education Week article: “Secondary Students Are Struggling With Reading, Too. A Look at the Landscape.”
  

• Know Better, Do Better: Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read by Meredith & David Liben
  

• Learn more about dyslexia tutors, resources, and support for struggling readers at The Literacy Keys

In this episode, Tracy and Alex discuss their personal experiences with dyslexia, parental guilt, anxiety, and the importance of therapy. They explore the emotional journey of receiving a dyslexia diagnosis, the differing reactions between parent and child, and the complexities of parental guilt. The conversation also emphasizes the significance of finding the right therapist and the value of self-acceptance in the face of challenges.

TAKEAWAYS

• Alex experienced relief when diagnosed, feeling it validated her struggles.
• Tracy felt a significant amount of guilt upon Alex's dyslexia diagnosis.
• Parental guilt is tied to the feeling of letting children down and the desire for perfection.
• It's important for parents to be kind to themselves and recognize their imperfections.
• Parents should be aware of red flags indicating their child may need professional help.
• Therapy can be a valuable outlet for emotions, but finding the right fit is crucial.
• Not every therapist will be suitable; it's important to find someone relatable.

Keywords

child psychologist, parental guilt, therapy, therapist, mental health, emotional support, parenting, anxiety, dyslexia,

Dive into the essential skills of reading fluency — what it is, why it matters, and how parents can strengthen it at home using multi-sensory techniques.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What reading fluency actually means

• Why fluency is the bridge between decoding and comprehension

• How dyslexic learners uniquely benefit from structured fluency practice

• The most effective multi-sensory reading fluency strategies parents can use at home

• • Echo reading

  • Phrase scooping

  • Repeated readings

  • Pressure-free timed readings
    

You'll also hear about a FREE opportunity to participate in a Spelling Program that Tracy has created for Struggling Spellers. Head over to: https://theliteracykeys.com/beta-tester-unlock-the-spelling-code/

Tracy Young is an Orton-Gillingham trained, ALTA Certified Practitioner and the founder of The Literacy Keys, where she tutors dyslexic students and teaches parents how to support literacy at home with confidence and clarity.

This Episode Is For:

• Parents of dyslexic children
• Parents of struggling readers
• Homeschooling families
• Educators looking for multisensory fluency ideas
• Anyone wanting to understand structured literacy more deeply

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