Reading Help

Click below for tips on helping your struggling 5th grade reader!
  1. Did you know...
  2. Did you know....
  3. Did you know...
  4. Did you know... (From Scholastic)



Did you know...

...that struggling readers need structured, systematic, explicit 
emphasis   
to build accuracy and fluency?  
The National Reading Panel says that multiple readings of 
continuous text 
(repeated readings) can lead to improvements in reading speed, 
accuracy, 
comprehension, and expression.  This is true for normally 
progressing 
readers as well as students with reading problems.
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Did you know....

...that students should read materials that can be read 
accurately (90 to 95 
percent accuracy)?  Material should be selected so that the 
student is able 
to read the passage without undue frustration.
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Did you know...

...that you can practice simultaneous oral reading at home?  Use 
a text you 
are familiar with.  Discuss the topic, illustrations, or titles 
with the 
student.  Preview any challenging vocabulary words that you may 
encounter.  
The adult reader reads a portion of the text aloud using good 
expression 
while the student looks at words being read, following along.  
Next, the 
adult and student read the selection together, as one voice.  
This step can 
be repeated two or three times, until the student is ready to 
read the 
selection independently.  Then, the student reads aloud to the 
adult.  
Passages should be short enough so as to not frustrate the 
dysfluent reader!
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Did you know... (From Scholastic)

 6 Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension
Help your child retain what he reads � a crucial skill, 
especially as he 
gets older and needs to glean important information from 
textbooks.

Have him read aloud. This forces him to go slower, which gives 
him more time 
to process what he reads. Plus, he's not only seeing the words, 
he's hearing 
them, too. You can also take turns reading aloud.


Provide the right kinds of books. Make sure your child gets lots 
of practice 
reading books that aren't too hard. She should recognize at least 
90 percent 
of the words without any help. Stopping any more often than that 
to figure 
out a word makes it tough for her to focus on the overall meaning 
of the 
story.


Reread to build fluency. To gain meaning from text, your child 
needs to read 
quickly and smoothly - a skill known as fluency. By the end of 
2nd grade, 
for example, your child should be able to read 90 words a minute. 
Rereading 
familiar, simple books gives your child practice at decoding 
words quickly, 
so she'll become more fluent.


Talk to the teacher. If your child is struggling mightily with 
comprehension, he may need more help with his reading � for 
example, 
building his vocabulary or practicing phonics skills.


Supplement class reading. If your child's class is studying a 
particular 
theme, look for easy-to-read books or magazines on the topic. 
Some prior 
knowledge will help her make her way through tougher classroom 
texts.


Talk about what he's reading. This "verbal processing" 
helps him remember 
and think through the themes of the book. Ask questions before, 
during, and 
after a reading session. For example: 

Before:What are you interested in about this book? What doesn't
interest you? 

During: What's going on in the book? Is it turning out the way 
you thought it would? What do you think will happen next? 

After: Can you summarize the book? What did you like about it? 
What other books does it remind you of?
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