Remedial Reading Techniques

Struggling readers benefit from extra reading instruction.

Children of all ages struggle with reading for a variety of reasons. Knowing each child's strengths and weaknesses allows parents and teachers to plan individualized and appropriate remedial reading instruction.

Types

The three most common causes of reading difficulties in children are difficulty with the alphabetic principle, or the idea that written words and letters match spoken sounds; challenges with reading comprehension; and a lack of reading fluency. Each type of reading difficulty must be matched with a technique focused on the skill with which a child is struggling.

Considerations

There are many remedial reading techniques available for parents and teachers, from scripted direct instructional techniques to hands-on activities. Each student reacts differently to each type of remedial instruction, and the program used should match the child's needs. Some students require reading remediation as a result of poor teaching or lack of exposure. These students often succeed after quality exposure to books and reading.

Warning

Nearly 40 percent of all children have some difficulty with reading skills. While most children who receive remedial reading instruction and intervention before the end of third grade are able to catch up to their peers, students who do not receive early intervention often never gain all the appropriate reading skills.

References

• Reading Rockets: Areas of Difficulty
• Reading Rockets: Why They Struggle
• Reading Rockets: Helping Stuggling Readers