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Helping the Struggling Reader
One day at work it was my job to sit with individual third graders who were struggling with reading. I was sitting in the room where I was to work with the students, when one of them came in. He sat down, looked me right in the eye and stated matter-of-factly, “I can’t read!” I was saddened, mostly because it appeared as if this boy had given up on himself. I looked back at him and stated, “Lets learn then.” We got to work, and made slow progress. By the end of our time together he looked less dejected and more hopeful. He had come far, but he still had a long way to go. There are so many children who struggle with reading. Some might struggle with disorders such had attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) or dyslexia, while others might not have learned important literacy skills yet. Struggling students need help in mastering literacy skills, so that they can succeed in the future. Caregivers and educators need to make literacy a priority in learning.When it comes to learning how to read, a typical child will follow four major stages (stage 0 to stage 3). Sophia Huang describes the stages in her research paper titled "The Influence of Kindergarten and First-Grade Literacy Instruction on the 3rd- and 5th-Grade Students' Reading Achievement: Findings from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Kindergarten Class”. Stage 0 is when a child mimics reading, and learns the letters of the alphabet, and is typically achieved in preschool or kindergarten. Stage 1 (grades 1 and 2), a child can recognize a connection between letters and sounds, and can read simple words. Between grades 2 and 3 a child will typically achieved the skills in stage 2. Reading fluency, word banks and vocabulary is increased. Once the previous stages are mastered a child can begin to master stage 3. A child in stage 3 (grades 4 to 8) uses reading to help develop new ideas, viewpoints, and learn new skills.
Not every child masters each literacy stage at the optimum time, especially if learning difficulties is a factor. What can parents, caregivers and educators do to help young struggling readers? Acknowledgement of a problem is a crucial start to finding a solution. Standard reading and comprehension testing can help detect possible reading issues. Ideally when a school years starts, educators and assistants should meet with each student one at a time. The student shows through reading exercises what stage the student is at. By taking the time early in the school year to meet and test each child individually, an educator can detect struggling children early. If a child is discovered to be behind, the teacher can meet with the child’s caregiver. Together they can find a cooperative plan to help the child master each literacy stage.
What are some methods that can lead to successful literacy development, especially for struggling students? Individualized literacy training is a great method to use. It is hard for a struggling child to keep up in class. Feelings of dejection and hopelessness usually occur during group class instruction. Classrooms can set up a system where the child has access to individualized instruction. Educational assistants can be employed to work one on one with the student. Individualized instruction is especially helpful for children who struggle with ADHD or dyslexia. Over time, the child develops more confidence in their reading, and therefor more confidence in their education.
Children who find reading challenging need help. Just like that boy who thought he couldn’t read. He was able to progress in his literacy skills because of the programs made available to him. His progress was made possible by a caring educational system that made it possible for him to receive one on instruction. When literacy training is the priority of early education, children develop the skills they need to succeed.
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