Strategies to Support All Our Readers- Literacy

We want our students reading. We know the more students read, the better they become as readers.  It is not uncommon for struggling readers to avoid it. The result is a widening of the gap of the student's performance and the expectation.  So what do we do?  According to Harvey "Smokey" Daniels and Steven Zemelman, in Subjects Matters, there are a couple of strategies for teachers to use that may prove beneficial. While this is not a complete list, there may be an idea or two to consider.

1. Create a supportive relationship.  Students who struggle generally know that they are not meeting expectations.  A teacher that demonstrates to the student that they believe in them can go a long way. 
2. Model thoughtful reading using think-alouds.  I have written before about this. Generally think alouds are part of the focus lesson in the gradual release model of instruction.  However, it is never wrong to model more often for readers who need this level of support. This strategy can be highly effective. 
3. Promote self-monitoring. Readers need to learn to identify when they are having difficulty and shown effective ways to get themselves back on track. 
4. Use materials that the students can successfully read.  Give students materials at their level. This is so important to building abilities (and confidence).  While we also need to give them opportunities to work with more challenging text, be strategic by providing a higher level of support. 
5. Build engagement with the text.  Choose wisely. Students who are interested in the text will also want to discuss. This promotes comprehension. 
6. Provide books and materials in various formats.