How to Help Struggling Readers

Reading is a very complex activity and not everyone learns to read in the same way. A competent reader frequently fails to realize how incredibly difficult and frustrating learning to read can be for the non-reader. Proficient readers automatically construct meaning without thinking consciously about cueing systems, background knowledge and context clues. This lack of understanding sometimes makes it difficult to help a young child who is struggling with reading. Some simple steps will help anyone open up the world of reading to a child.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Book appropriate for age level
• Notebook chosen by the child
• Comfortable, quiet place
• Patience

1. Selecting a book that interests the struggling reader is vital. There are many lists of quality children's books available from Newberry, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King award winners lists for a starting point. Also, your child’s teacher or local librarian can help guide you in making an appropriate selection. The book chosen should have large, bold print and few words on each page. The pictures should be vibrant and basically tell the story. In some cases, allowing the child to make the selection with guidance would be a wonderful way to start because with ownership comes responsibility and most children understand this notion.
2. Find a quiet place and get comfortable.
3. Look at the cover and ask the child what they think the book will be about. If possible, the child should write the prediction in a reading journal (notebook). It is important that the adult writes it to script exactly what the child has said. This helps the child understand that reading and writing are connected.
4. Read the book with expression and point to each word on the page. Encourage the child to join in or take over at any point. If the child wishes to pause to discuss the pictures be prepared to question the child as to what they think will happen next. Why do they think this will happen? Avoid questions with one word answers. Integrated in reading should be the development of critical thinking skills. It is important midway through the book to allow the child the opportunity to change his/her predictions. If they chose to do this ask them why they made this decision? This will permit the adult to have insight into the child’s reasoning skills. It also will help to make sure the child understands the action that is taking place.
5. Rereading the book several times over the next week or two will help the child memorize some of the patterns and develop word identification skills. This skill will build reading confidence which many children initially lack when learning to read.
6. The purpose of reading is to construct knowledge and derive enjoyment from the pages of a book. Patience and caring on the part of the adult is one of the keys to making a successful, lifelong reader.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose books with patterns, rhymes or repetition. They are generally easier for children to read and comprehend.
• If the child becomes distracted by the reading journal, it is fine to eliminate it initially and add it back when the child is more at ease with the actual activity of reading.