Have you ever wondered why some kids learn to read quickly and easily and other kids struggle?
Researchers have spent years trying to determine the “why” behind struggling readers. The assumption, when it comes to reading, is that there must be one “system” or “method” that will help students build this skill.
So…then why do so many research studies on methods for teaching reading produce basically no valuable data?
The truth is that reading isn’t just about knowing how to sound out words or being able to memorize a billion words from the dictionary. (Yes.. that’s a honest-to-God teaching method.)
It’s actually about both…
It’s like playing the piano. How do these amazing piano players look at these little drawings placed on a series of lines and somehow translate that to placing their fingers in the correct location?
Even more interesting, how do they do that so quickly that they stay on beat and in time?
The simple answer is muscle memory. They’ve done it so many times that their brain interprets that image on that specific line as a movement.
But when they first get started, they have to slow down and think hard about those notes. It takes a lot of effort and “figuring out.”
In the EXACT SAME WAY, learning to read requires a fair amount of muscle memory. Muscle memory that can only be developed through a lot of time and sounding out.
But getting a struggling reader to practice, practice, practice can sometimes feel like pulling teeth.
Fortunately, with the resources at our disposal these days, it’s not actually all that hard to make reading feel fun and exciting for kids.
Below, I’m sharing my TOP 3 SECRETS that turned my struggling reader into an above average reader in only 6 months
#1 – Listen to Audiobooks as a family.
Now, you may be wondering how audiobooks help with reading. But the truth is, one of the most important parts of learning to read is learning to LOVE books and stories.
I mean, when was the last time you ever wanted to read an encyclopedia. But you better believe that you’ve wanted to read a magazine or watch your favorite show on Netflix. Why? Well, because you know that what’s inside is interesting and entertaining!
School teachers have a bad habit of turning reading into a “must do” (and sort of boring) activity. So kids often look at reading as a chore instead of an exciting adventure. Getting into a few good audiobooks together can help change this perception!
# 2 – Ask them to help you with things that require reading
Kids love to help you. It makes them feel important and needed. So when you ask them to find you the can in the cabinet that says “Lima Beans,” they’ll try… even if they hate to read.
We take this one a step farther and make our grocery trips into a bit of a game. Each kid gets a list that they have to read and then find the items. The child that finds the most is the winner and gets to pick the candy treat they’ll all get at checkout!
#3 (My kid’s favorite) Gamify their learning
Remember that learning to read requires a ton of repetition. And what’s the ONE THING that most kids would do for hours on end?
YUP… video games.
Finding a great video game that teaches kids to read can be a bit tricky, but if you can find one that your kids are interested in, you’ll find that reading becomes “easy” for them pretty quickly!
Our favorite gamified reading app ( by far) is The Night Zookeeper!
We tried finding a “gamified” reading experience for a long time. But a lot of the options out there were just a bit too “babified” for them.
They needed the skills being taught, but they wanted a more exciting game to play. When we found Night Zookeeper, my kids were so invested in the storyline they would rush home from school to play!
They had no idea that they were actually learning to read along the way!
If you’re looking for a good app for teaching your kids reading, you can grab a free trial of the Night Zookeeper here.
You’ll also get 50% off of a full year if you decide to keep it… and I think you will! (It’s seriously awesome.)
They have multiple stories that the kids can “read” (they do actually have to read.. but it feels more like they are playing.
In fact, it feels a bit like being in control of a tv show! That’s probably why my kids love it so much.
We hit the full screen button on the stories and they head off onto an adventure, trying to save the zoo from evil enemies.
Honestly, it’s probably one of the best gamified learning apps we’ve ever tried!
When kids are ENJOYING something, they’ll do it over and over again. That’s why this is probably the most effective thing you can do to help your struggling reader.
So jump over to their site and grab a free trial. Let your kids click around a bit in the game and just see how things go!
FAQs
Researchers have identified three main types of struggling readers. There are students with specific-word, specific-comprehension and mixed-reading difficulties. Teachers can help students access books with vocabulary that matches their ability by employing popular strategies to help struggling readers.
How do you help an older struggling reader? ›
To help older students restore foundational reading skills, parents and educators can utilize the following strategies:
- Graphic organizers.
- Small groups phonics instruction.
- Personalized instruction to meet each student's history and needs, with an emphasis on vocabulary and writing.
7 strategies to use with struggling readers
- SCAFFOLD. For any struggling reading, the feeling of being able to achieve success is key. ...
- BE INCLUSIVE. ...
- ALLOW PREPARATION OF ORAL READING. ...
- EXPLORE CHILDREN'S INTERESTS. ...
- USE CLOZE ACTIVITIES. ...
- USE ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT. ...
- USE SHARED READING.
Typical poor readers rarely prepare before reading. They often begin to read without setting goals. They seldom consider how best to read a particular type of text. During reading, poor readers may have difficulty decoding, and so have difficulty reading the words of their texts accurately.
What struggling readers really need? ›
More than anyone else, our struggling readers need books they can read, understand, and enjoy. And just as importantly, they have to have choice within those books. For this to happen, the classroom has to have a good variety of books, but it also has to be a place that values lots of kinds of books.
What is the best intervention for struggling readers? ›
The most commonly used strategy to improve reading fluency is the reading and rereading of familiar texts. Opportunities to read aloud, with guidance from teachers, peers or parents, are also associated with the development of fluent reading.
How do you build confidence in struggling readers? ›
Here are five things we did to encourage my son to read aloud, and I would suggest them to any parent facing a similar situation at home.
- Don't push your child. ...
- Give him privacy. ...
- Read to a different audience. ...
- Let your child see you struggle with words. ...
- Don't overcorrect.
Reading fine print is not as easy as it used to be, because the lenses in our eyes change as time progresses. When you are young the lens in your eyes are able to flex and change shape, but when we get older the lens becomes stiffer and is difficult to adjust to reading fine print.
Do struggling readers catch up? ›
Reading scientists have long recognized that students who fall behind in kindergarten or first grade are also likely to never catch up—unless they receive before third grade the kind of intensive interventions that third-grade promotion gates are intended to trigger.
What are the four powerful strategies for struggling readers? ›
Four Powerful Strategies for Struggling Readers, Grades 3–8 shows teachers how to support students' reading comprehension by teaching the strategies that highly effective readers use: summarizing, creating meaningful connections, self-regulating, and inferring.
The recommended seven hands-on learning strategies that can promote learning and support for struggling readers during literacy instruction include Build the Words, Feel the Words, Whole Body Letters, Five Finger Retell, Sight Word BINGO, Elkonin Boxes, and Word Swat. Young children learn in a variety of sensory ways.
What helps reading get easier? ›
Reading Strategies & Tips
- Schedule time to read. Reading is an easy thing to put off because there is often no exact due date. ...
- Set yourself up for success. Pick a location that is conducive to reading. ...
- Choose and use a specific reading strategy. ...
- Monitor your comprehension. ...
- Take notes as you read.
Some major causes of poor reading ability are difficult text, ADHD, dyslexia, limited vocabulary, working memory deficit, and more. People may also have trouble with comprehension due to boredom or disinterest in what they are reading. Speed reading has proven to help deal with poor reading and comprehension skills.
What is hyperlexia? ›
Definition. Hyperlexia is when a child can read at levels far beyond those expected for their age. “Hyper” means better than, while “lexia” means reading or language. A child with hyperlexia might figure out how to decode or sound out words very quickly, but not understand or comprehend most of what they're reading.
Why are Fountas and Pinnell bad? ›
Seidenberg said Fountas and Pinnell have it “backwards.” Their materials prompt students to use patterns, pictures and context. They give students “strategies for dealing with their failures,” rather than teaching them to read, he said. And the BAS measures how well they use all those flawed strategies.
What are the 3 main type of reading strategies? ›
There are three different styles of reading academic texts: skimming, scanning, and in-depth reading. Each is used for a specific purpose.
What are the three types of readers? ›
Jenifer Ashby The three types of readers are; the developing reading, dormant reader, and lastly the underground reader.
What are the three common reading problems? ›
This article reviews research on three common patterns of poor reading: specific word-reading difficulties, specific reading-comprehension. difficulties, and mixed reading difficulties.
What are the 3 levels of reading of reading development? ›
A handy guide to the three levels of reading: literal, inferential and evaluative.
