Purpose: To investigate the association between word reading performance and the resources of the family environment of third-year elementary school children enrolled in a Belo Horizonte municipal school. Methods: This study involved a nonprobability sample comprising schoolchildren of both sexes aged between 9 and 11 years enrolled in a municipal school of Belo Horizonte. The status of the children's home environment resources was assessed using the inventory of the Home Environment Resources and their reading performance was measured through the Evaluation Tests of Reading Processes. Results: We found statistical significance in the relationship between the availability of material resources (ludic and linguistic) and social activities and the reading of words. Parental practices were positively correlated to the reading of infrequent words. Only the rubric "routines" was not significantly associated with the students' reading performance. Conclusion: It was observed a proportional association between the resources of the family environment and the reading and writing performance of the schoolchildren. These results demonstrate the need for actions to be developed with the families to assist them in coping with the adverse conditions and optimizing the home resources to enhance the children's development.