[A_perfect_lady]

My mom and grandparents used to read to me and with me at night and on weekends. A teacher is only with your child a certain amount of time each day and her attention is divided amongst 25-35 kids. If kids don't read except when they are in school (and then only certain classes) that is very little exposure to written words. It's not enough for them to get good at it.

I can't understand parents complaining that their child isn't a good reader. You are the parent. You'd better take up the slack because you brought that kid into this world, you are with them for 18 years, you are the one who is there at night, you are the one who has only a few kids around, not a huge group of them, you are the one who should be making sure that child keeps up.

[wintertime]

My mom and grandparents used to read to me
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Your mom and grandparents did what homeschooling parents do. In other words, you were “afterschooled”.

Where are the studies that prove classroom teaching does anything at all? Unless the informal tutoring done by parents and by paid professionals ( “afterschooling”) is measured, it is impossible to know if institutionalized teaching is in any way effective.

It is completely possible that the institutional schools are merely sending home a curriculum for the parents, tutors, and child to follow in the home.