Now, don’t get me wrong…I don’t think there’s one magic solution or perfect formula for teaching reading. After students complete a passage, ask them to write down 3 things that they learned, 2 things that are interesting, and 1 question that they have. Ear reading, listening to an audiobook while reading, is a great approach—at least periodically—for all students, but it has particular benefits for struggling readers and students with dyslexia. It's time to be innovative and try new reading activities that your students will enjoy. Practice celebrating the efforts or the strategies that your students employ while reading. You can effectively change this association by allowing students to read the world around them! Adding games to your reading instruction is a great strategy to improve literacy skills. All teachers and students are different and find success with different programs or techniques. While it is important to focus on decoding all words – from simple to challenging – placing a pointed focus on decoding problem sounds can do wonders for improving your student’s reading skills. They offer your students purposeful and specific strategies with beautifully illustrated designs! Fluent readers often rely on their knowledge of letter-sound relationships to decode words. Allow your students time to explore nontraditional reading material that interests them. Reading is a fundamental skill that we all use every single day. Suggest material like newspapers, magazines, recipes, comic-books, blogs, or song lyrics! But if you were allowed to choose what book you wanted to read, chances are that you would be much more motivated and engaged. Equip students with a toolkit of strategies like these that they can always fall back on so that they can move past challenges. Praise is one of the simplest strategies that you can utilize when teaching reading! So, how can we better equip ourselves to help our students overcome their reading struggles? For kids, learning to read is essentially part of their ‘job’ as students. Reading and writing strategies for intermediate students with LDs: have students use other media, work in pairs, or use assistive technology. Assess the student's ability to compose appropriate language, follow the writing conventions (spelling, punctuation, etc.) Students read literature that differs in writing style, from 17th Century drama to the Modern American novella. Across multiple grade levels, good writers are created through systematic, explicit instruction, combined with many opportunities to write and receive feedback. There are a slew of graphic organizer products out there or you can even have your students create their own! What exactly does that mean when it comes to your reading instruction? By using this simple strategy, you not only boost their engagement but you allow them to  purposefully improve their reading comprehension. There’s a specific way in which you should deliver praise to your budding readers. The following strategies for teaching reading comprehension to elementary students can help you maintain that balance by giving you opportunities to push your students creatively while still giving them the support they need in order to get (and stay) motivated. With writing skills in such high demand, increased writing instruction and student feedback can benefit students for the rest of their lives. Do these characters remind you of anyone from your own life? We cannot rely solely on “reading” teachers to help students tackle difficult or unfamiliar text in order to gain necessary information. Thank you! When using praise as a strategy for teaching reading, it’s vital that you understand the most effective way to offer praise to your students. January 18, 2017 . Here are some of examples of how you can pair graphic organizers to any unit you teach! Your email address will not be published. Discuss your students hobbies, fears, curiosities. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Raising Readers site offers lists of the best books out there and tips for how to support children along every step of their reading journey. Avoid saying, “Come on, hurry up!” or “Whoa, slow down!”  Fluency can be a challenging skill to master and one that will take time and practice. In the early stages of learning to read, building confidence is often the main objective. The students in your classroom are undoubtedly a diverse bunch with each of them learning and absorbing information in different ways. Fluency can be defined as being able to decode text and read with accuracy, speed, and proper expression. This urge to correct or jump in and help a struggling student simply comes love and wanting to help them learn and improve. Then, let them act out what happened and you have to guess, or vice versa. When they feel as if they have accomplished this, it has the ability to seriously motivate and encourage them to keep reading. Students are taught strategies for reading and writing primarily in their language arts classrooms. Would you put forth your best effort? Reading is not a subject- it’s a behavior. When they identify an error, have them correct it as well! Considerations for ELLs. Cross-Curricular Literacy: Strategies for Improving Secondary Students’ Reading and Writing Skills, pp. Kids often associate reading with boring school textbooks or assigned chapter books that are of no interest to them. Student Choice. This will help them focus on fluency and build confidence. They offer healthy competition, the possibility to win, and the opportunity to be engaged in something fun! Not. I’ve always struggled with this particular teaching strategy. Aside from the obvious use of reading on a kindle or other e-reader device, there are countless apps and programs out there that help build fluency and comprehension in engaging ways. Graphic organizers let students process information both visually and spatially which encourages them to internalize the material. As a general rule when a student is reading through a text for the first time, do not interrupt them. You might be surprised with what they come up with! Try reading some of these books during your next group reading session. The Writing Process Chart model page provides teachers with a reference. Using graphic organizers allows you to address a variety of learning modalities at once during reading instruction. Try allowing your students to play around with one of these apps or websites: The innate understanding that kids today have with technology makes it an amazing strategy for boosting learning and engagement during your reading instruction. Kids are opinionated – about EVERYTHING! Phonics is often thought of as a precursor to fluency. How do the ideas in the text relate to your own life or experiences? Share Ideas before writing. They can be utilized daily by incorporating various activities and word wall lessons into your curriculum. Praising specific efforts or pointing out accomplishments allows them to feel proud of what they have done, while still encouraging them to keep trying. It was my greatest passion and the perfect escape from reality. Students read literature that differs in format (drama, epic, essay, etc). Without phonics, it’s pretty tough to become a fluent reader. But in an effort to collectively boost literacy for all of our little learners, I’d like to share with you a few strategies that I’ve found useful in my own classroom! Kids are EXTREMELY intuitive and they will sense false or empty praise when it’s offered, which will only discount their hard work. Every subject taught requires the skill […] Using writing as a strategy to improve reading skills is a sneaky way to disguise practicing things like fluency, comprehension, and phonics. Guest post by Margot Carmichael from Carmichael’s Class. This is the most effective strategy to get your students to want to read. As a teacher, I am constantly learning and evolving, but the one constant is always putting my students first!”, Filed Under: Blog, Classroom Management, Fluency, Literacy, Reading Comprehension. When they’re struggling to pronounce or decode, words, they can’t give the necessary attention to understanding the text. Take advantage of this time-honored tradition by getting your students involved in fun and educational reading activities. The very nature of graphic organizers enables students to quite literally see the connections in what they are reading. After all, there’s so many factors to consider when teaching and learning reading – phonics, fluency, comprehension – the list goes on and on. Brainstorm with the whole class to generate a Word Bank for Writing (PDF). Here are some great strategies for helping your ESL students get the most out of classroom reading practice. Students then write a text using the words. by TeachThought Staff. 2. From book activities to read-alouds, there is something that every reader will love. Be sure to sign up for my email list and receive exclusive access to my members-only resource library. Instead, offer your students praise for their efforts, perseverance, or progress made rather than their simply praising their perfection or intelligence. Never laugh. Technology is the perfect way to not only get your kids excited about reading, but offer them the opportunity to work on a variety of reading skills. If shouting is outside your zone, perhaps they have to touch their nose or clap their hands when they come across a ‘buzz’ word. Many parents and guardians will ask you how they can help with their child's education and Raising Readers is an excellent resource that they can use to learn how to promote early literacy development. Students orally share ideas before writing (with a peer, as a whole group, or even record ideas using a technology device) - This gets their creative juices flowing. A fun technique to use when teaching reading is something called the 3-2-1 strategy. More complicated strategies, such as peer revising, should be introduced in 2nd grade or later. Let them get through it, mistakes and all. Meaningful reading activities will reinforce and enhance what your students are learning while also making them more excited to read. And you probably already have a pretty solid arsenal of strategies in your back pocket. Now, if your student laughs at their mistake, it is okay to laugh together – but NEVER laugh at your reader. And as teachers, we want nothing more than to help our students become comfortable and confident readers. Start by having a conversation with your students about what their interests are or what they would like to know more about. By keeping useful strategies displayed, you allow your students an element of independence. Free tools like Google Docs have made it easy for students to work on the same piece of writing at home and at school, and have allowed teachers to explore collaborative writing assignments and synchronous editing with students. My name is Emily, and I am the creator of Education to the Core. My hope is that my website can be a place for primary teachers to grow and develop their craft using the content and resources provided on my site. Try finding little words inside bigger words or asking your child to replace one word on each page with a synonym or antonym. Encourage your reader regardless of what level they’re at. Especially if the student unknowingly mispronounces something as an ‘adult word’. And part of progress is building confidence. Teach the strategy of using pictorial, semantic, and syntax cues, and conventions of print to read for meaning. I have taught highly diverse classes with high populations of ESL learners, Special Ed learners, and behavior challenges–granting me a deep understanding on the importance of personalizing learning for each and every student. …or you can use reading inspired games to help increase literacy skills! Find more close reading units with graphic organizers here! Before their second time reading through the text, discuss any unknown words or mistakes made. Writing is a skill with rules and structures. If you want a bit more control over the types of reading game you play, try suggesting some of the following: As teachers, it’s second nature to want to correct your students when they make a mistake. Say a synonym or antonym of a word wall word, say a sentence missing the word wall word, or provide a definition of a word wall word. Ensure students have a plan for what they will be reading and why. It deals with beginning readers understanding the correspondence between letters and sounds. Try some of these great phonics websites for additional practice during centers or as homework. 10 Learning Strategies to Use in Your Classroom, Develop Fluency and Comprehension With Repeated Reading, Teaching Phonics With the Analytic Method, 10 Strategies to Increase Student Reading Comprehension, How to Design Lessons When the Student Can't Read, May Themes and Holiday Activities for Elementary School, The Best Read-Aloud Books for Elementary Students, Elementary School Summer Session Activities by Subject, 20 Book Activities to Try With Grades 3-5, June Themes, Holiday Activities, and Events for Elementary Students, How to Assess and Teach Reading Comprehension, Reading Motivation Strategies and Activities, Reading Strategies for Elementary Students. Students should learn basic strategies, such as POW (Pick ideas, Organize their notes, Write and say more), in 1st or 2nd grade. Children will only become the best readers they can be if books and literacy are prominent parts of their life. Using manipulatives to teach letter-sound relationships is a great technique. If your child is reading two grade levels below where they should be, praise their perseverance and hard work without mentioning their reading level. Furthermore, connecting what your students are reading to their lives in addition to activating prior knowledge often helps students retain more of what they read. What they read is no different. They help promote a literacy-focused environment that’s rich in printed text. It’s pretty essential for kids to become fluent readers in order to focus on comprehension. These 20 classroom activities designed for 3rd through 5th graders are targeted toward the genres they are studying, so you don't have to worry about getting off track. Teachers in Littleton, Colorado -- like teachers in many places -- are increasingly asking students to read and write online. Strategy #1: Encourage openness. If they read it correctly, they keep it! These five ideas and activities will increase your students' motivation and help them get into reading. You can provide categories for the words e.g. A word wall is often seen as simply a classroom decoration or fancy bulletin board, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. When you open up your student’s eyes to new and exciting reading material, you help them see the world in a whole new literacy-rich way. And I haven’t come across a child today that doesn’t love all things technology. It’s important to reflect on three foundational literacy concepts and questions when developing students’ skills in reading, writing and thinking. Maintaining a word wall is a highly effective strategy for promoting literacy in your classroom. If done correctly, it can seriously impact your student’s reading success! Each of you can take turns guessing what is going to happen next in the story based on the pictures – then discuss who was more accurate. When students write, they draw upon the sum of their experiences in listening, speaking, and reading. ABC Spy App: actively helps kids learn letters and pronunciations, Bookster App: storytelling app that reads to kids and allows them to record their voice to the story as well, Seuss’s ABC App: kids have the option to read the book or have it read to them; words are highlighted for easy follow along, MeeGenius App: audio playback; personalization where child can substitute their name in the book; toddler to young teen. Completion of the Writing Process Chart page is an ongoing activity throughout the course of the cur-riculum. There are a slew of products out there that can help make decoding problem sounds more fun for your students. This seems like an obvious bit of advice…but you would be surprised how hysterical some word mispronunciations can be! During this week at the beginning of November, schools and libraries across the nation celebrate reading in a variety of ways. It’s no secret that developing proficient reading skills from a young age is essential not only for academic success, but for success in all areas and stages of life! When you give students a voice and a choice, then they will choose something that is of interest to them. Remember, word walls can be a beautiful addition to classroom decoration, but they can also be a useful strategy to employ in your reading curriculum. A few things to keep in mind and phrases to avoid when correcting your readers: The not over-correcting strategy is especially important with new readers. Metacognition can be defined as “thinking about thinking”. It came naturally to me and luckily, I never really struggled with it. Plus, when kids are reviewing their stories, they unknowingly edit and proofread their work. Students who struggle with coming up with their own ideas might get … Student must guess the correct word. 25 Reading Strategies That Work In Every Content Area. One problem with strategy use is that it is often not taught (Ends 12/24) Shop Now. Everything is in its place and perfectly organized – until the kids get there, of course. Use code: CORE to save 20% on your ENTIRE purchase! There are hundreds reading strategies available to help students with their comprehension at different levels and with different types of text (Prado & Plourde, 2005). http://www.thepixiepit.co.uk/games_menu.htm, reply to this comment to Rita Dudley" aria-label=', reply to this comment to Jenn" aria-label=', reply to this comment to Sarah adnan" aria-label=', http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie/activities/8-9/detail/tongue-twisters, reply to this comment to Mary Davis" aria-label='. Children should be practicing reading every day in and out of the classroom to develop their comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and self-directing abilities—but that is a lot to expect students to be able to do! Teachers are always looking for new ideas on how to teach phonics to their elementary students. As students develop language skills, they often develop listening skills first (lots of input they can understand), then speaking (they begin to formulate their ideas in the second language), then reading (they can understand the sound/symbol correspondence of the new language and make sense of the words) and finally writing (they have enough language to express their own ideas in writing). Required fields are marked *. Decoding is a common skill that students employ when learning to read. Laugh. Reading aloud to your students is usually a favorite activity because it allows them to access intriguing material that they are not yet able to read on their own. Teach students to choose texts that are appropriate for their skill level and find topics that interest them in every genre. By teaching phonics while working on fluency, your students have the opportunity to grow exponentially as readers. Read-alouds also model strategies for comprehension and questioning that students should strive to adopt and makes them a part of conversations about books that they would otherwise probably not have. These Reading Strategy Posters are so useful to both teachers and kids! You can even purchase the bundle and give each student their own set of strategy cards or keep sets in your reading corner for shared use! Effective writing instruction results in children who can produce clear, understandable writing for different purposes. You can teach students: To Always Preview a Book or the Text: When students learn to read the title, table of contents and chapter headings as well as look at pictures to get an idea of what the story will be about, they are preparing their brain for reading. 64-79. For creative students, you might let them brainstorm some ideas for reading games in order to give them some control and a chance to flex their creative muscles! Learn how your comment data is processed. Discuss new words in context. Includes resources, tools and guides for teachers and students to improve classroom outcomes in guided reading and independent reading activities. You can learn more about me here. In other words, we need to modify our instruction based on our students' readiness. When creating your word wall, don’t feel as if it needs to be a static resource! A synthesis of the existing research on reading interventions for students with reading difficulties and disabilities in fourth and fifth grade found the following (Wanzek, Wexler, Vaughn, & Ciullo, 2010): 1. There are a ton of simple ways that you can turn reading into game…. Strategies to Improve Secondary Students’ Writing Skills: Lessons from the Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively Practice Guide . When it comes to reading comprehension, graphic organizers are an incredibly useful strategy and tool to support this vital aspect of becoming proficient readers. Reading is simply a sequence of symbol interpretation. Plus, depending on what strategy posters you decide to use, you can add to the adorable-ness of your room! This is a great follow-up activity after skimming, enhancing your students’ comprehension of the reading even further. If you were forced to read a book about a topic that was of no interest to you, would you be excited? 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