A struggling student reading below grade level can use context clues to puzzle out the meaning of new vocabulary and literary information. An author provides these clues by including pieces of information the student may already know to give meaning to difficult or new vocabulary words. Remind the student to look at any pictures accompanying a story and to carefully read and reread a sentence or paragraph with the unfamiliar word. Use material that interests her so she has a knowledge base and motivation to determine context.
After the student reads the story or study material, have him close his eyes and try to visualize the story or how the steps in a process work. Invite him to pantomime the events with his eyes closed to get a feel for the action. Alternatively, have him direct your actions as he reads, giving you directions in his own words.
Have the student read the material out loud to improve fluency. Listen for changes in inflection and slow or faltering reading as clues that she is struggling. If the material is too difficult, choose an easier book or take turns reading paragraphs. Encourage her to feel the emotions of the characters and use her voice to demonstrate when the character is excited or sad.
Direct the student to sound out unfamiliar words. Point out familiar prefixes, suffixes and root words that help decode the word, such as “re-” for again, “pre-” for before, “mini-” for small and “-ful” for full of or containing. Offer small clues if none of these strategies help, or use a student dictionary to look up a word and then re-read the passage.
Ask the student questions about what he has just read, such as the name of the main character and what she is doing in the story. Ask him how the character feels and what her next action might be. At the end of the story, have the student re-tell the story using his own words. Probe for important events in the story or specific details such as where the story takes place or relationships between characters.
Make reading with the student an everyday activity. Encourage independent reading with frequent trips to the library or by giving books as gifts. Read comic strips and subject content your child really enjoys. Take time to read together at bedtime or on long car trips. Any occasion can offer a chance for reading.