Model reading. When fluent readers read, they are doing more than simply sounding out the words. They are using clues from around the text to gain information about the text itself. For instance, if you are reading a passage in a textbook, you might look to the bold words first in order to understand key vocabulary. You might look at a graph to understand what the text is saying about an “upward trend.” And, you might check a picture to get a visual of the person under discussion. Talking through this out loud with students can help them learn the “tricks” that help people understand even really hard texts. Teachers can help model how they use information from outside of the text to inform their reading of the text itself.
Adult-Tested Strategies
The strategies above were suggested by kids for kids – and have been proven to work! Below, I have included just two more suggestions (from adults) that have proven effective in helping older children learn to read.
Written response. Writing about what you are reading is a great way to improve comprehension, as it requires a thorough understanding of the text to be able to convert it to your own words. Of course, you need a minimal amount of knowledge in order to write to begin with, but once you have the foundation, reading and writing can work hand-in-hand.
Don’t forget about technology. Many books are available on tape and there are great computer programs for reading available. These are excellent ways to work on reading that take the pressure off of the teacher and parent. These resources can be ideal supplements to in-class instruction.
Just because phonics doesn’t work with older children, don’t give up. There’s hope. After all, even the kids themselves say so!