12.3 Strategies for supporting struggling readers

Struggling readers need tailored support to improve comprehension and fluency. Teachers can use scaffolding techniques like activating prior knowledge, pre-teaching vocabulary, and using graphic organizers. Multisensory approaches and technology also play crucial roles in assisting these students.

Small-group interventions are effective for addressing individual needs. By assessing students, grouping them strategically, providing explicit instruction, and monitoring progress, teachers can create a supportive environment. Collaboration with other professionals ensures comprehensive support for struggling readers.

Supporting Struggling Readers

Scaffolding for comprehension and fluency

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• Activate prior knowledge by engaging students in discussions or activities related to the text before reading to help them make connections between the text and their own experiences (brainstorming, KWL charts)
• Pre-teach vocabulary by introducing key words and concepts before reading the text, providing definitions, examples (word walls, vocabulary games), and visual aids to support understanding
• Use graphic organizers such as concept maps, story maps, or Venn diagrams to help students organize and visualize information from the text
• Provide guided reading by modeling fluent reading and comprehension strategies, gradually releasing responsibility to students as they become more proficient
• Implement repeated readings by having students read the same text multiple times to improve fluency while providing feedback and support during each reading
• Use chunking strategies to break text into smaller, manageable sections and encourage students to pause and summarize after each section

Multisensory approaches for struggling readers

• Utilize visual aids by incorporating pictures, videos, or real-world objects related to the text to help students create mental images and connections
• Incorporate auditory elements such as audiobooks or read-alouds to support comprehension and encourage students to read aloud or use text-to-speech technology
• Engage kinesthetic learning by using physical movements or gestures to reinforce vocabulary or concepts and incorporating manipulatives or hands-on activities related to the text
• Employ tactile experiences by using textured materials or raised-line drawings to support understanding and encouraging students to trace letters or words while reading

Technology for reading assistance

• Text-to-speech software allows students to listen to text being read aloud, providing support for decoding and comprehension
• Digital highlighters and annotation tools enable students to highlight key information or make notes within digital texts, supporting active reading and engagement with the text
• Adaptive reading programs use software that adjusts reading level and provides targeted practice, offering immediate feedback and progress monitoring
• Audiobooks and podcasts offer alternative ways to access and engage with texts, supporting comprehension and exposure to rich vocabulary

Small-group interventions for struggling readers

1. Assess individual needs using formal and informal assessments to identify specific areas of difficulty and determine appropriate instructional strategies and materials
2. Group students strategically by creating small groups based on similar reading levels and skill needs, ensuring groups are flexible and can be adjusted as students progress
3. Provide explicit instruction by focusing on specific skills or strategies during each intervention session and using a gradual release of responsibility model (I do, we do, you do)
4. Monitor progress regularly using formative assessments to track student growth and adjust instruction, celebrating successes and providing ongoing feedback and support
5. Collaborate with other professionals such as special education teachers, reading specialists, or speech-language pathologists to develop a comprehensive plan to support each struggling reader