Introduction:
It's no secret that reading can be
difficult for people of all ages. There are many reasons why individuals have
difficulty with comprehension, but it is important to understand how this
affects an individual and what they can do about it to help themselves. In
order to learn more about the different ways a person might read, we need to
examine both sides: what causes difficulties in reading and how one can
overcome these difficulties. Here are 6 things you should know if you struggle
with reading comprehension.
Factors Which Cause Reading Difficulties:
1. General Reading Problems:
- Issues with decoding
- Poor comprehension
- Reading Speed
2. Reading Disorders:
- Dyslexia
- Auditory Processing Disorder (ADP)
- Language Processing Disorder
- Non-verbal Learning Disabilities
- Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit
You can read the “Can I Teach a Child with a Reading Disability?” article to get all the factors causing reading problems in the Childs in details.
How To Improve Reading Difficulties:
Following are the main topics that help to improve reading:
- Find A Reading Buddy To Help You Out
- Read Aloud With Someone Else and Take Turns Reading Pages Aloud
- Read In Short Bursts
- Use Your Finger as a Pointer While You Read
- Choose Books Easy For You To Read or Have Large Print
- Get An Audiobook and Listen To It Instead of Reading It Yourself
1. Find A Reading Buddy To Help You Out:
The first tip we recommend trying out if you struggle while
reading is: Find a buddy who is willing to help you practice. If possible try
practicing together at least once per week and take turns being responsible for
different parts of the reading. For example, the first time you practice try
taking turns and seeing who can find different words or sentences on a page in
a set amount of time. You may notice that when your buddy is trying to help you
they will often say certain things like "Oh here's one" or "Do
you see this word?". If these phrases sound familiar then it means that
maybe finding difficult words has become easier for them!
2. Read Aloud With Someone Else And Take Turns Reading Pages Aloud:
The second tip we recommend trying out if you struggle while
reading is: Read aloud with someone else and take turns. This way, practice
isn't just something that feels like a chore for one person - instead it's fun
because the two of you are working towards helping each other do better. So
find someone who wants to help improve their own comprehension too and then
start practicing by taking turns. For example, first try choosing random pages
in your book or article to read from. As odd as this may sound, there's
actually research behind why taking turns works when it comes to improving
comprehension especially for individuals who have difficulty during certain
parts of reading. The reason why taking turns can be so helpful is because it's
a way for you to get more reading practice in and also forces your brain to pay
attention during the entire process instead of getting distracted or giving up
before you finish.
3. Read In Short Bursts:
The third tip we recommend trying out if you struggle while
reading is: Read in short bursts instead of long amounts at a time. This way,
the task isn't as daunting and also allows your brain to have more breaks
throughout which can help with comprehension. So pick any amount that works
best for you - whether this be only five minutes or even just one page worth
before taking a break. Then try going back after a few hours or maybe even
overnight to see how much better you remember what happened on that specific
chapter. If this sounds like something that will work well for you then get
started by picking out some books from our recommended list here.
4. Use Your Finger As A Pointer While You Read:
The fourth tip we recommend trying out if you struggle while
reading is: Try using your finger to follow along on the page. This can be
really helpful because it gives you something visual to focus on and also helps
guide where specific words are. So try picking up some books from our list of
suggested texts here, or even just articles online that interest you, then get
started by pointing at each word with one hand (it doesn't matter which) and
following along slowly but surely.
5. Choose Books Easy For You To Read Or Have Large Print:
The fifth tip we recommend trying out if you struggle while
reading is: choose books that are easy for you to read or have large print.
This can be really helpful because it makes the book more manageable and easier
to follow along with. So try picking up some books from our list of suggested
texts here, or even just articles online that interest you, then get started by
looking at the text size before choosing your next story!
For example, if this means getting another copy of a title in an
alternate format (i.e. paperback instead of hardcover), then do so! There's no
shame in asking for help and we're happy to work with you on finding the right
sizes.
6. Get An Audiobook And Listen To It Instead Of Reading It Yourself:
The sixth and final tip we suggest trying out if struggling
during the process of reading is: getting an audiobook version. This can be a
great way to improve your comprehension by listening to what the book says
rather than having to read it on your own. So try picking up some books from
our list of suggested texts here, or even just articles online that interest
you, then get started by looking at the text size before choosing your next
story!
Bonus Reading! Strategies That Can Help!
Ideas Must Be Activated:
Students who know a subject well will be
more likely to engage with it and guess what they're about to read if you use
pictures and titles or skim a text to assess the main idea. You may also make
mind-maps as a pre-reading activity, as well as putting a few questions on the
board and having students begin by discussing them in pairs or small groups to
get a sense of what they already know about the topic.
Improve Your Vocabulary:
The more words a student knows, the
easier it is to identify them in reading. The term "vocabulary"
refers to a list of terms and their meanings. It's also crucial for spelling
development to teach words in context. Teachers may offer a glossary with the
text or pre-teach important terms before starting the lesson. Because learning
words in context improves meaning comprehension, instructors might consider
teaching on contextual guessing as well.
Teach The Dolch List:
High frequency words
that appear in numerous children's books and school worksheets over time may
help kids save cognitive energy for more difficult and rare vocabulary. Using a
program like Touch-type Read and Spell to teach these terms immediately, so
they can be reinforced, might enable kids to read more quickly and effectively.
Reading is an important skill, but it can also be challenging. The tips we’ve shared here should help you get started on the right foot and make reading more enjoyable for yourself or your little ones! Remember to take care of your brain by using these principles as often as possible. When all else fails, try getting someone to read with you or listen instead; this will allow you to continue learning even when other things are going on in life. What books have helped improve your comprehension? Let us know in the comments below!
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