Discuss the sixth grader's reading difficulties with the parents or teacher. This will provide you with the information you will need for planning tutoring activities and books to read with the student. The parents or teacher may also want to provide you with reading materials, based on what they are doing in the classroom.
Bring several books with you during each tutoring session. The books you bring should be appropriate for the student's reading level. During the initial sessions, bring at least one book that is at least two grades below the student's reading level. Providing books that are too difficult will discourage the student from wanting to read.
Allow the sixth grader to choose a book. Assist her in reading the summaries on the inside of the dust jackets or back of books, as she decides which book she wants to read.
Have the student read the book aloud, helping her with any words she is having difficulty with. Pause after every few pages to discuss what is happening in the story so far. It may be helpful to the student to do activities related to the story, such as writing a paragraph about the book or discussing her personal reactions to the story, such as what she likes the best or least, how does the story make her feel or who are her favorite characters.
Provide positive feedback to the student. This will help to keep the student excited about reading and the progress she is making, encouraging her to want to continue.
Choose more difficult books to read as the tutoring sessions continue and the student's reading and comprehension abilities increase.