Helping Older Struggling Readers: A Guide for Parents and Educators

 

Helping Older Struggling Readers: A Guide for Parents and Educators

Is your child or student in upper elementary or middle school and still struggling with reading? It can feel disheartening to see them fall behind their peers. As students get older, the gap widens between their reading ability and the demands of the curriculum. However, there are effective strategies you can use to help these students build their reading skills and confidence. It may not be easy but it all students can improve upon their reading with targeted reading instruction.

The Challenge for Older Readers

By upper elementary and middle school, a student's reading struggles are often more complex than just a simple lack of phonics skills. The issue may stem from a combination of factors, including:

• Weaknesses in Foundational Skills: While they may have some basic decoding skills, they might struggle with multisyllabic words, fluency, or automaticity. This means they are still sounding out words that their peers read automatically, which slows them down and strains their working memory.

• Limited Vocabulary: Limited vocabulary makes it difficult to understand complex texts. If a student doesn't know the meaning of key words, the entire passage can become incomprehensible.

• Poor Reading Comprehension: Some students may be able to read the words on the page but struggle to understand the main idea, make inferences, or summarize what they've read.

• Aversion to Reading: There may be a history of difficulty which can lead to a negative mindset. These students often avoid reading at all costs, which further hinders their progress.

Practical Strategies to Help

Helping older struggling readers requires a tailored and patient approach. Here are some strategies you can implement:

1. Focus on Foundational Skills (Without 'Babying' Them)

It's important to address the root of the problem without making the student feel embarrassed. Don't use children's phonics books. Instead, focus on skills in a more mature context.

• Assessment: Assessing students to find the specific gaps in their learning is very important. Find diagnostic tools that will assess the five core areas of reading; phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

• Multisyllabic Words: Help them learn common prefixes and suffixes. For example, break down words like "in-de-pen-dent" or "un-der-stand-ing." This helps them decode larger words more efficiently.

• Fluency Practice: Partner reading can be highly effective. You read a sentence or paragraph with expression and proper pacing, then they re-read the same section. This models what fluent reading sounds like.

2. Build Vocabulary Actively

A strong vocabulary is crucial for comprehension. Make learning new words a regular part of your routine.

• Introduce New Words: When you encounter a new word, don't just tell them the definition. Break down its parts (if applicable), talk about its context in the sentence, and connect it to words they already know.

• Word Walls & Apps: Create a personal list of new words and review them regularly. Many apps and websites offer engaging ways to learn new vocabulary tailored for older students.

3. Teach Comprehension Strategies Directly

Comprehension isn't a passive skill; it's a set of active strategies. Teach them how to "think about their thinking" while they read.

• Pre-Reading: Before starting a text, teach them to preview the material. Look at headings, subheadings, and images to get a sense of what the text is about.

• During Reading: Encourage them to ask questions as they read. A simple question like, "Who is the main character and what do they want?" can help them stay engaged and focused.

• Post-Reading: After reading, teach them to summarize. This is a powerful way to check for understanding. Start with a sentence or two, then work up to a short paragraph.

4. Find High-Interest, Low-Reading-Level Books

This is perhaps the most important strategy. If a student is not engaged, they won't want to read. Find books that are about topics they love—video games, sports, mystery, fantasy—but written at a level they can actually read. Librarians are excellent resources for finding these "high-low" books.

A Final Thought: The Power of Praise

Progress for a struggling reader can be slow. Celebrate every small victory: a new word they learned, a chapter they finished, or a summary that made sense. Praise their effort, not just the outcome. This encouragement builds the confidence they need to keep trying.

Helping an older struggling reader requires a lot of patience and understanding. By focusing on foundational skills in a mature context, building vocabulary, teaching active comprehension strategies, and finding engaging books, you can empower them to become more confident and capable readers.

The Phonics Explorer