Teacher Tea
Strategies for Struggling Readers
What do we do with students who are reading below their grade level?
In a recent blog post, “Do middle and high school students need fluency instruction, and what counts as instruction?,” Timothy Shanahan discusses the importance of fluency instruction for middle and high school students, especially those who are significantly behind grade level. While fluency instruction becomes less crucial as students progress, it still plays a significant role in reading comprehension. Shanahan stresses the importance of modeling, practice, and feedback in teaching fluency. Fluency instruction can significantly improve students' overall academic performance.
Fluency instruction aims to make reading effortless, focusing on accuracy and proper expression. By mastering these skills, readers can shift their attention from decoding words to comprehending meaning. Key strategies include repeated reading of familiar texts and developing prosody (expression) to enhance understanding. Research confirms that strong fluency skills are correlate with effective reading comprehension.
Fluency instruction can substantially impact reading comprehension across disciplines. Fluent readers can decode words accurately and quickly, allowing them to focus on understanding the text. And fluency builds confidence and motivation, making reading a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.