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Unlock Your Child’s Potential: Keys to Reading Comprehension 

Unlock your child's potential

Unlock your child’s potential with these five keys to reading comprehension. Parents, teachers, and tutors can help children in their care develop comprehension skills by using the following strategies: utilize multisensory approaches, receive scaffolded support, use assisted reading strategies, monitor progress, and begin with easy texts. 

We can help struggling readers build the skills and confidence they need by developing these skills. We have worked with many struggling readers and have seen the power of these effective strategies to improve a child’s comprehension skills. 

Reading comprehension is a complex process that involves understanding and retaining information from texts. Struggling readers may find this process challenging, but with the right support and resources, they can develop their comprehension skills and become successful readers.

Start with Easy Texts

Beginning with easy texts is a helpful strategy for testing reading comprehension with struggling readers. Starting with texts that are below the child’s reading level can help build confidence and provide a positive reading experience. These texts should be easy enough for the child to read independently, which can help them focus on comprehension. As the child’s confidence and comprehension skills improve, parents and tutors can gradually increase the difficulty level of the texts. This can help struggling readers develop their comprehension skills and gradually build up their reading abilities.

Research by the National Reading Panel, starting with easy texts can have a positive impact on struggling readers’ comprehension skills. The panel found that starting with texts that are too difficult can actually hinder students’ comprehension skills.

Use Multisensory Approaches

Multisensory approaches can be an effective strategy for improving comprehension for struggling readers. These approaches engage multiple senses, such as sight, sound, and touch, to help children understand and remember information. Examples of multisensory approaches include using manipulatives, incorporating movement into learning activities, and using visual aids.

According to a study published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities, multisensory approaches can improve the reading comprehension of struggling readers, including those with dyslexia. The study found that using a multisensory approach, such as incorporating visual and kinesthetic elements into reading activities, led to significant improvements in reading comprehension for struggling readers compared to traditional approaches. Another study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that using manipulatives, a common multisensory approach, improved the reading comprehension and engagement of struggling readers in elementary school. These findings suggest that multisensory approaches can be an effective strategy for improving comprehension for struggling readers.

Provide Scaffolded Support

Scaffolded support is another effective strategy for improving comprehension for struggling readers. This approach involves providing support and guidance to help children understand and remember information. Examples of scaffolded support include breaking down complex information into smaller, more manageable pieces, providing prompts and cues to guide children’s thinking, and offering explicit instruction on comprehension strategies.

Research has shown that scaffolded support can be a highly effective strategy for improving comprehension for struggling readers. This approach can help struggling readers develop their comprehension skills and gradually build up their reading abilities.

Use Assisted Reading Strategies

Assisted reading strategies are designed to provide additional support and guidance to struggling readers during reading activities. These strategies involve a more experienced reader (such as a teacher or tutor) working together with the struggling reader.

Echo reading involves an experienced reader reading a sentence or phrase aloud, and then the struggling reader repeating it back. This helps that child focus on the sounds and rhythms of language and improves their ability to decode words. Choral reading involves the two reading aloud together, which can help the child develop fluency and rhythm. Paired reading involves the child reading aloud with a partner, with the partner providing feedback and support.

Research conducted by the University of Oregon has shown that assisted reading strategies can be highly effective in improving struggling readers’ comprehension skills. These strategies provide additional support and guidance to help children understand the text and can lead to increased confidence and a more positive attitude toward reading. By implementing these strategies, educators can help struggling readers develop the skills and confidence they need to become successful readers.

Monitor Progress

Monitoring progress is a key strategy for improving the reading comprehension skills of struggling readers. By conducting regular assessments, such as quizzes, tests, and reading logs, parents, and tutors can identify specific areas where the child is excelling or struggling. This information can then be used to inform instructional practices, allowing educators to provide targeted support and interventions that are tailored to the child’s needs.

Regular assessments can also help struggling readers see the progress they are making, which can lead to increased motivation and a more positive attitude toward reading. When children see that their hard work is paying off, they are more likely to feel confident and engaged in the learning process.

The National Center on Intensive Intervention has conducted research that supports the effectiveness of monitoring progress for improving comprehension in struggling readers. By regularly assessing a child’s reading comprehension skills, educators can provide timely and appropriate interventions that address specific areas of difficulty. This can help struggling readers build the skills and confidence they need to become successful readers.

Improving reading comprehension for struggling readers is a complex and ongoing process, but there are effective strategies that can make a significant difference. As educators, parents, and tutors, it is our responsibility to provide the support and guidance that struggling readers need to develop their comprehension skills. By starting with easy texts, using multisensory approaches, providing scaffolded support, using assisted reading strategies, and monitoring progress, we can help struggling readers build the skills and confidence they need