All of my kids were readers when they entered kindergarten. I saw to it. When my youngest left 2nd grade she could barely read and in fact disliked reading aloud.

Why?

Teacher used hand outs for every subject, described exactly what pupils were to do on handouts and let the children who finished go play in activity centers until everyone was done.

My Hilary learned very quickly to fly through those handouts and she would spend most of the day in her favourite activity center which ironically was the reading center.

I kept getting the great reports back from the teacher and yet at home, could not get her to read. Several trips to the local library and one visit to the reading center in her classroom, revealed all. Hilary only selected the listening books. You know the ones that had audio tape and the little tone that told you when to turn the page.

She was not reading. She was only memorising what was read too her. I confronted her teacher about the fact that at home Hilary's reading skill had not improved since pre kindergarten. Teacher only said that Hil was a model student, no trouble and always did all her seat work.

Hilary spent the next 3 years in a private school and her reading skill improved and exceeded other like aged students within the 1st year.

Why?

Teacher made the kids read all the instructions for the work they set, instead of spoon feeding instructions. The students sat in reading circles everyday and read aloud to the teacher, just the way I did when I was in school.