Tips for New Teachers
Supporting Struggling Readers
Children who struggle in reading often find it difficult to select and to sustain interest in appropriate books for independent reading. Here are some suggestions for promoting independent reading and reading fluency with your struggling readers.
- Create a classroom library that contains books suitable for a wide range of interests and reading levels. Reading levels should range from at least two years below to at least two years above grade level.
- Provide nonfiction texts in your classroom library. These are often of high interest and contain text features and pictures that support reading.
- Encourage independent reading with texts that are both easy and motivating. Students should be able to read them with 96 to 100 percent accuracy in word recognition.
- Encourage reading of books in a series.
- Lead brief book talks on easier books that may be of interest to the students. Students like to read books their teachers enjoy.
- Allow time for students to present their own book talks on favorite books.
- Provide opportunities to practice reading fluency with Reader's Theater, poetry, choral reading, and books on tape (while following along).
- Check in with struggling readers each day to discuss and monitor their independent reading.
- Introduce students to authors who write across a range of reading levels (e.g., Cynthia Rylant, Lois Lowry, Tomi DePaola). Read the more difficult books during read-aloud time; encourage reading of the easier books during independent reading time.
- Allow time for independent reading every day, and observe struggling readers during this time. If they seem disengaged or off task, try to figure out why. Have they chosen a book that is too difficult or of low interest? If so, guide them in the selection of books that are both readable and interesting. Have they chosen an appropriate book but seem unable to get started on their own? If so, you might help by reading the first page or two, and then directing them to finish the chapter or selection on their own.
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