10 ThingsStruggling
ReadersNeed
-Becky Spence
www.thisreadingmama.com
For additional resources, go to -->>
www.thisreadingmama.com/TTD-2015
10 Things Struggling Readers Need
Who is a Struggling Reader?
Textbook Answer: A child who is one or more grade levels behind in reading.
Three Areas in Which they Typically Struggle:
1- Reading the Actual Words (decoding/phonics)
2- Comprehension (thinking about what they read)
3- Motivation (“I hate reading.” or “I can’t read.”)
Please Read!
Imagine that you are living ten thousand years ago. You
b_____ to a t____ of h______. H______ has not been
g______ for some time, and many p______ in the
t_____ are very h______. At n____ one day, your
l______ p_____ to the t______ g____ for f_____.
Imagine that you are living ten thousand years ago. You
b_____ to a t____ of h______. H______ has not been
g______ for some time, and many p______ in the
t_____ are very h______. At n____ one day, your
l______ p_____ to the t______ g____ for f_____.
Answers:
elong ribe unters unting
ood eople
ribe ungry oon
eader rays ribe ods ood
Struggling Readers Need…
Keep these in the back of your mind today:
• Developmentally appropriate
• Explicit instruction
• Systematic instruction
• Multi-sensory techniques
1. Struggling Readers NeedSpecific Reading Encouragement
Reading Encouragement Ideas
• Wow! You did a great job correcting your mistake!
• I like how you tried that word until you figured it out!
• When the answers are “right there”, you do such a great job answering the questions!
• I think it’s totally cool that you talk to yourself when you read. I do that, too!
• The word you just read looks a lot like the word on the page! Way to use the clues from the word!
2. Struggling Readers NeedTexts they CAN Read
Why?
Success breeds motivation.
Determining a Book’s “Level”
1. Words- Can they read MOST of the words?
2. Comprehension- Can they understand the topic and concepts?
2. Struggling Readers NeedTexts they CAN Read
What “Level” is the Book?
1. Frustration – mostly for modeling
2. Instructional –WITH you
3. Independent – on my own
From How to Choose “Just Right” Books
3. Struggling Readers NeedTexts They WANT to Read
4 Things to Consider
• The print or font
• The pictures
• The characters
• The content
3. Struggling Readers NeedTexts They WANT to Read
Book Choices for Struggling Readers
• Series Books
• Comic Books
• Graphic Novels
• High Interest/ Low Vocabulary
• Magazines
• Nonfiction
• Poetry
4. Struggling Readers NeedTIME to Read (& Re-Read)
Make Time/Space for Reading
• D.E.A.R. – Drop Everything and Read
• Read at bedtime
• Tent or reading nook
• Keep reading bins
• Take frequent trips to the library
5. Struggling Readers Needto Learn to Read with Fluency
What is Fluency?
• Recognizing words quickly
• Accurate reading of words
• Inflection of the voice (expression)
• Phrasing (pausing at commas, etc.)
Fluency & Comprehension are DIRECTLY related!
6. Struggling Readers Needa Reading Model (That’s YOU!)
What Does a Reading Model Do?
• Read with fluency
• Read for different purposes
• Model your thinking OUT LOUD
• Comprehension Strategies
• “Fix-Up” Strategies
It all starts with
ASKING DEEPER QUESTIONSthat lead to…
• Dialogue & discussion
• Understanding vs. remembering
• Less “fluff” and more meat
7. Struggling Readers Needto Develop “Thoughtful Literacy”
8. Struggling Readers NeedMore Strategies than “Sound it Out”
The Problem with “Sound it Out”
• It only works with words you can sound out!
• There are too many “rules” to remember.
• It will only take you so far.
• It can begin to slow readers down.
8. Struggling Readers NeedMore Strategies than “Sound it Out”
infodextation
Read this Word:
How did you figure it out?
8. Struggling Readers NeedMore Strategies than “Sound it Out”
Reading by Analogy Ideas:
• It can start with word families.
• Look for chunks you know.
• Teach it in your spelling instruction.
• Model and practice together.
Short Vowel Word Study App
Long Vowel Word Study App
8. Struggling Readers NeedMore Strategies than “Sound it Out”
9. Struggling Readers Needto be Supported As a Reader
Don’t skip WE & TWO!
• ME (they listen to you)
• WE (you do it, they “support” you)
• TWO (they do it, you support them & give feedback)
• YOU (they try it with independence)
10. Struggling Readers Needto Read All Kinds of Texts
Different Kinds of Texts for Readers
• Fiction
• Poetry
• Nonfiction
• Magazines
• Let them pick their own!
Struggling Readers NeedRecommended Resources
Short Vowel Word Study App
Long Vowel Word Study App
All About Reading
Struggling Readers NeedRecommended Resources
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