How to Establish a Developmental Reading Program

Reading Classes

Many students in schools today have a need of intensive learning in the area of reading. In developmental reading programs you need to take into consideration each of your student's individual reading levels and particular needs. You can then tailor your programs to suit your individual students and work toward developing their skills so that they can join the mainstream of readers. Below are some basic steps toward developing a developmental reading program.

Instructions

1. Determine the reading levels of each of the students that you will work with during the program. This will enable you to divide students into classes and or groups that are at roughly the same developmental level.

2. Read to the students. Regardless of their reading proficiency, students will respond to being read to. They need to become accustomed to hearing how words are pronounced and how an effective reader handles reading smoothly and easily. Students will learn by hearing reading aloud for a set time before they respond and read for themselves.

3. Quiz the students on the content of the pages being read to ensure that they remain on task and listening. Use the readings to develop spelling, grammar and reading lessons.

4. Allow the students themselves to read. After they have listened and become accustomed to the sounds of words, ask for volunteers to read aloud in the class. You may correct mispronunciations, but do it in a noncondescending manner.

5. Bring in new students to read aloud. Once they have seen that their peers are reading, the shyer students will be encouraged to try and read as well. If the teacher can be in a full supporting role in the classroom, students will be at ease and new learning will take place. Teachers can always remind and encourage students to read on their own during the program as reading improves naturally with practice.

Tips & Warnings

• Run these courses as intensive 6-week courses and the school will be able to fit in three of them in one semester. Each course can be at a higher level from the earlier one. After completing the three levels in one semester the students in the reading program should be able to function in a mainstream class. If your students still find difficulty with reading, you can offer individual tutoring or extra practice.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Reading Development Program
• Reading Horizons