Diversify your Teaching Strategy to Improve Basic Reading Skills

In order to meet the unique needs of each student in the classroom, teachers should customize their lesson plans by implementing various types of elementary reading techniques. Although living in a technological age full of video games and tablets may compete with a child’s desire to read, parents and teachers can help motivate them by finding books that will spark their interest. In some cases, improved technology can assist in fostering a child’s passion for reading. Innovative reading programs and tablet applications have been shown to improve a child’s ability to read. Children learn the basic concepts in a fun and exciting format.

Along with using different electronic teaching aids, teachers can make reading in the classroom enjoyable. Since children often become frustrated with complicated concepts and complex vocabulary, simplicity is key. Here are a few reading strategies aimed at fueling your students’ excitement for reading.

Facilitated Reading

Facilitated reading is a great way for teachers to guide the student’s reading skills, while providing a focused and organized framework for learning. While the student may not be able to think independently quite yet, you can teach them to do so through the following process:

• Organize your students into groups according to their reading level. Small groups of six students work well.
• Choose books for each small group. Try to select books that are interesting, entertaining and somewhat challenging. You want to make sure, however, that they are not too difficult.
• As the teacher moves around to each small group, they facilitate the students’ reading by providing critical thinking questions about the story. They can help students answer the questions and lead a discussion about the text afterwards.
• Encourage students to use strategies that have learned, such as finding embedded words and sound-letter relationships, to decipher the meaning of the story.
• As the teacher moves from group to group, the other students can play some of the fun reading games listed below.

Reading Activities

Incorporating a fun interactive reading program along with your regular curriculum may help to grab the attention of your students. Two helpful reading aids include Hooked on Phonics and Robot Reader.

Hooked on Phonics has several games and interactive activities that are focused on improving your student’s reading skills. If you are looking for reading printables, including activities and games, Robot Reader is a great tool. Fun reading activities are the perfect way to make your teaching job much easier.

Diversify your Teaching Strategy

There are three basic types of learners, including auditory, kinesthetic and visual learners. The goal is to structure your lesson in order to teach all three. For elementary school students, it is crucial to focus on the basic fundamentals; however, don’t rely on traditional visual learning techniques. Have students read aloud or lead them in a reading game in order to capture the kinesthetic and auditory learners as well. This is a great technique to help motivate teenagers too, as changing your teaching methods can help stimulate their brains while in class and gives each different learner a chance to learn under their preferred method.

Understanding the Content

Teachers who help their students make connections between their life and the story can help to establish reading comprehension. Young students can do so quite easily, as they often relate the main character in the story to their own experiences. You can ask questions and make suggestions to get your students thinking.

Taking the time to diversify your teaching strategy will ensure all of your students are able to learn. It also creates an exciting environment that fosters learning for all.