Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on classroom instruction, and it is too early to know if, or to what extent, students’ learning will be impacted. Literacy rates in the Lowcountry were abysmal before the pandemic, as data from South Carolina’s literacy assessment suggests an alarming 50% of students in Grades 3-8 are struggling to read and comprehend grade-level text. (The 2019-2020 state assessments were suspended .) Parents’ fears of their children falling behind are completely justified. Well, good news parents! You can play a vital role to avoid reading setbacks and keep your kiddos on track. Research shows that knowledge gained from previous experiences may significantly increase a poor reader’s comprehension of the text. How does that work? Let’s say your child’s class is reading about stalactites and stalagmites and your family visited a cave this summer. Your child’s text comprehension will likely be higher than students who have never stepped foot in a cave