Helping Students with Reading Challenges
What are some ways you can help students with reading deficiencies?
I agree Jashua Elrod, more time is needed for some of these students. Helping students with reading deficiencies is difficult. When a program is short in duration for example 6-9 months, it would be difficult to bring challenged reading students up to reading level to be effective in the classroom. Similar to what Ron Atallian remarked in his post. Tutors appear to be the best choice for some of these students. Another choice, is to additional off class time helping the students with the teachers or teaching assistants. However, most schools do not have the enough money to give this help. For many of these student, the teachers scheduled office hours is not enough as well.
To add to the problem, I agree with Aileen Paez, the English language is difficult for some of these students, as well as the English foreign language speaking students with medical terms.
here in our class we have the ability to have someone read things for them. also we have MP3 with our curriculum.
You can help students with reading challenges by providing clear definitions to new vocabulary and the applications of said vocabulary.
Continue to repeat the core subject matter terms and ask them to repeat the word and meaning. Phonics is also a big help with students who do not have English as a first language.
I do my best to make myself available to the students for extra help. I often have a wide variety of students - some who really can't read and some ELL students. I am a full time associate, so I have hours at the school when I can assist students more. I tell them they can come to my office and read to me or I will read to them. I know not everyone has those hours, but it is what I offer my students.
Students with reading challenges have different needs one way of helping the student it supply different methods of teaching. one size does not fit all. so the teacher may have to supply different methods of teaching.
I help students with reading deficiencies by:
A. Having them read straight from the textbook as a review for the lesson.
B. Use the trade terms listed in textbooks and have the student build vocabulary cards with the terms, then use these cards in a group session and have students go over the terms.
C. Ask the students if they understood everything
that was presented in lecture. If not review the concepts again.
I've found it's helpful to read out loud and ask comprehension questions as we go. I also find it helpful to have everyone pronounce the difficult-to-pronounce words. It is tough to remember a word you can't pronounce.
Patrick,
this is a great idea for all of us as it can really help with the familiar words.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I refer back to Latin or Greek roots especially in medical terminology. Spanish speakers seem to grasp those roots quite well.
Story pictures, demonstrate step by step, slow and specific with details and demonstrations. I tend to approach my teaching as if my student could not hear....small precise gestures, over emphasis in practical application skills, keeping eye contact and smiling to acknowledge my desire to help them comprehend material presented while clearly stating terminology associated with application being demonstrated.
Barrie,
excellent ideas that can really help students with reading challenges & those who have English as their second language.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Always be positive, read to the class out loud from the text book and sound out new words ( do this consistently with every class), and set-up a field trip to the college library. Library will have tools to help with reading/writing deficiencies.
Time is needed, but I believe it should be spent in learning the language of the business/skill/trade we are teaching. I believe a vocabulary which is unique to your 'gunsmithing' school will help students pick up on your lessons and enable them to get into the mechanics of the problem more easily.
Gary l. Schlomer
Deborah,
this is great as it relieves the pressure of another assignment, but it helps them stay on track & feel somewhat accountable.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Instead of suggesting they make flash cards with vocabulary words, I give them the cards and words to copy. They do not have a deadline to hand them in but I suggest during each chapter they should show them to me. They can use them to study with for exams and such.
Laura,
these are great ideas; I like to give students the chance to articulate the ideas without trying to write (at first) as that can really help them solidify the content.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I teach in a school with a large hispanic demorgrahic. Many of these students are struggling with learning English while also learning course content. I make sure they understand what I am teaching by continually checking on them and asking them to tell me what they learned about what I said. I also encourage them to answer questions, write answers and papers in their own language first for purposes of flow and knowledge and organization and then go back and convert it in chunks and pieces into the English language. Many students feel that this is a useful technique for them.
Sandy,
this is a great point as many struggling learners can speak the answers, but may have trouble writing them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
