How do you help a struggling reader?

Answer 1

There are several ways and known methods, however, I like to dedicate a time called FOCUS time, where I get rid of any distractions before I read. Let me know how I can be of help.

Answer 2

Before supporting this child in any way, I would have a psycho-educational assessment performed to rule out any identified learning differences (i.e., dyslexia). It is important to understand why they are struggling. I would take them to the public library with me to learn about their interests, any favorite books. I would use the same methods as Slingerland, Wilson, or Orton/Gillingham for working with dyslexic students. I would implement a variety of modalities to support them in their reading. I would work on phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. I might start by reading to them and working on reading comprehension, just letting them enjoy the process of listening to a story before moving on to more academic stuff. It’s very important to keep reading fun, it’s a life long skill.

Answer 3

It really depends on why they are struggling. The first step is to evaluate if they need more phonemic skills, to build their vocabulary, or to work on their fluency and comprehension. After assessing what the student needs, I create activities based on their interests and strengths to help them improve skills needed for reading.

Answer 4

Some teachersand parents make the mistake of attempting to solve the problems children have with reading, by simply giving them more reading tasks. This may lead to frustration and anxiety. Foundational to reading is phonetic ability. Therefore it is critical for educators to focus on the gaps that exist in phonemic awareness in order to effectively address difficulties associated with reading.