This summer I have been reading with an 8 1/2 year old boy.  He considers himself a second grader, even though school is over, because "third graders are allowed to cross the big avenue, and I'm not allowed yet."  He may have mild dyslexia, since he often reverses the order of letters, but never 'sees' words from the line above or below the one he is reading. 

My Experience and Observations

We read every weekday. Since the boy lives near me, he asked if we could work on reading in the morning as he waits for his bus to day camp. This way, reading uses up a boring piece of time not available for running around, and does not interfere with playing and biking with friends in the afternoon.  This kid has his priorities down straight. We sit on his front steps, with his swim bag near his feet. Sometimes cars driving past are a distraction, but generally he focuses on the words.   

How Reading Comprehension Works for Young Children

Parents and tutors should know one key fact: reading in the first few grades is hard work. Children are learning to read, and English does not always have a logical connection between the letters in a word and the sounds they make. However, by fourth grade, the children start 'reading to learn' instead of 'learning to read.' This makes it very important to master the reading skills and not lose them over the summer.