greg,
this really is a great strategy & I'm sure very helpful for those students who struggle.
Dr. Ryan Meers
This works fairly well, we highlite and underline and sometimes cross off and rewite for better understaning of the methods.
Kelsey,
yes I think this is a great strategy for helping them.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I think pronoucing the vocabulary words for them as well as showing them how that applies would help.
finding what the students relate to most like pictures, phonetics and applications.try various means which are comfortable and motivating to student.
Asside from extra time or tutoring, by presenting material in an audio or visual format may also help the students comprehension.
Philp ,
That is a great service to have & to encourage students to utilize.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I tend to refer them to our library which has an audio/reading program which has our current textbooks on CD but you must use the book along with to fill in different words that have been repeated throughout the audio.
Kathryn,
you are right that many times students come to us & they know they've struggled, but don't know why. A survey/assessment would definitely help.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I think that often the students don't actually realize what their learning problems are. It would be great if we had a validated learning strategies survey tool the students could take that would identify their areas of weakness and provide a more scientific basis for planning interventions.
Kathryn,
this is definitely a sensitive area. One suggestion is to ask them where they think they are struggling the most? Ask them what their difficulties are? This might encourage them to open up about their reading struggles.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I have not had to face this challenge yet. However based on what I'v learned. It is best to first evaluate or help individuals with reading deficiencies learn to comprehend and recognize words. It is also important to be special attention is being paid to what is being read.
I would suggest reading more often, and at times things that are interesting to the individual. Phonetics are also important, being able to sound out what is read. So reading aloud is also a good idea.
My question is more basic- how do you identify the students with reading difficulties without offending them? Students who score poorly on the first test (the fourth week into class) have to meet with me to go over their incorrect answers so I can see if there is a pattern to their errors. I have focused on their study habits and techniques. I have never explicitly asked them if they are having difficulties with the text. I need to carefully phrase a question to address this that does not insult them. No adult wants to admit they are a poor reader, yet I can't help them if I don't know. Any suggestions?
Memorable examples can include scenarios that solidify the concepts presented previously. It helps the student package the material for recall later
I wish my students spoke Spanish fluently, which I already know, as their native tongue; it would make my life so much easier. But definitely, tutoring my Somali students after class helps me go over course vocabulary and concepts at a relaxed pace that is easier for them to follow. I can also give them more examples until I am certain they are understanding the algebraic manipulations they are supposed to perform.
Joseph,
this is a great idea as it helps reinforce what has already been taught & also gives them another exposure to the vocabulary.
Dr. Ryan Meers
This is something I struggle with as an instructor. I find it frustrating to have to teach a student how to read and write while I am trying to teach them Nutrition, or knife skills.
In general I just try and be patient, and guide them in directions that they can use to help themselves.
FOr my students who may have reading challenges, I will emphasize the vocabulary again in lab classes. I make it a point to bring what we lectured about in to the lab so we can further define what was read or lectured upon.
You got to have a lot of patience.
Gerry, I do something similar to this in my mathematics class. I found that the students were having issues with simple steps in algebra because they could not understand the text. As elementary as it may seem, we read aloud in class and cross out words that are irrelevant, and highlight the key words. This helps the students process small chunks of information.
