Up to 20 percent of students have reading difficulties. You can help these children and young adults by reexamining how you approach and adapt your early reading instruction and reading intervention methods. Have a look at these suggestions from other teachers that may help you adjust your teaching techniques to meet the needs of struggling readers.

 1) Understand Students’ Background Knowledge   

• Continually assess requisite skills and knowledge   
• Build on what students already know   
• Consider cultural and linguistic diversity

2) Review/Re-teach Previously Taught Skills   

• Keep reviews frequent, interesting, and brief   
• Use multiple techniques when re-teaching   
• Vary the format from the initial instruction

3) Present New Materials in Small Steps   

• Use logical, small step sequencing when teaching   
• Include many examples using multisensory techniques

4) Check for Understanding   

• Ask different levels of questions   
• Encourage students to generate questions   
• Incorporate sufficient wait time   
• Teach self-monitoring

5) Provide Timely Feedback   

• Use prompts to help students notice and fix errors   
• Take time to encourage and praise students

Learn how Reading Horizons reading curriculum helps beginning and struggling readers become proficient in reading.