How to Help a High School Student to Read
In high school, students read to gain information in all of their classes. If a student struggles with basic reading, his comprehension and, by connection, grades will suffer in all subjects. Traditionally, training in basic literacy is done in primary school and by secondary school, students have moved from comprehending to the more complex task of analyzing. This presents a problem for students who never fully learned their basic literacy skills. In order to be successful, these struggling students need additional help to ensure that they develop the reading skills necessary to successfully navigate the world of written text.
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Instructions
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Provide an environment conducive to learning. Some students struggle to remain attentive to their reading when they are surrounded by distraction. These students require a still, silent environment in order to focus on the task of reading. When asking your student to engage in reading, ensure that the room is as calm and quiet as possible. Close the door, pull down the blinds and instruct all students to stay in their seats to create a haven for reading.
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Show the student how to highlight. A highlighter can be an invaluable tool to the struggling reader. This tool allows the reader to quickly mark any important parts in a block of text. While most useful with non-fiction text, this technique can also be used with fictional works or even works of poetry. The most common pitfall of highlighting is the tendency to highlight too much. Read through a piece of writing with your student and help him pull out the most important pieces including names, dates, key terms and concise descriptions. Work with him to highlight these key facts. Once he has tried it with assistance, allow him to give it a try on his own.
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Instruct the student to take notes while reading. If the student seems to have difficulty recalling what he has read, tell him to read with a pencil in his hand and jot down any important points. He can write these points in a bulleted list. Once he has finished reading, he can use the notes he took while reading to refresh his memory and remind him of what he just read.
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Tell the student to jot down questions. As the student reads, he can also write down any questions that arise. If the student stops every time a question pops into his head, he will likely lose his train of thought and forget some of what he has read. Instruct him to write down questions and tell him that you will answer them all once he has finished. This keeps the student focused on the task of reading and minimizes disruption.
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Practice translating the material with the student. Students often struggle to understand text that is markedly different from their natural speech. Select a chunk of complex text and read through it with the student. Then ask him to re-write the text in his own words. Encourage him to use slang and everyday phrases whenever possible. If he gets stuck while translating, provide assistance, but allow him to complete the task as independently as possible. After he has translated the text, ask him to look at the original and his translation side by side. The original text will likely seem much less complex now that he has simplified it by translating it into his own words.
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