Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.--Proverbs 22:29, ESV

The LORD will give you strategies as you need, and these last 4 of the 20 I'm sharing with you can help one student at home, or a classful in a public school--anywhere! God is faithful, and He will put His "super" on your "natural" as you endeavor to help kids succeed!

Your readers--whether it's your child at home, or a class full of "struggling" students--can benefit from these simple strategies. You can help them become P.O.W.E.R.* Readers! Not only can they gain confidence and positive thinking with the truly helpful tips, but you can sow the Word of God into them!

I have many hours towards a Masters of Arts in Education, and over 30 years' experience teaching. But you don't have to have those to help your students be P.O.W.E.R.* Readers!

What is a P.O.W.E.R.* Reader? It is a reader who knows strategies for success in "Purposeful Operations With Eternal Rewards"! (This is a term the LORD gave me years ago for my book series, The Adventures of Princess Pearl, P.O.W.E.R.* Girl!).

The LORD has taught me, even in the past couple of years, to say, "LORD, I yield to You. You are the Master Teacher, Jesus, and You created these children and know exactly what they need. I open my mouth and ask that You fill it; that You give me the tongue of the learned; that You cause them to not be able to resist the intelligence and inspiration of Your Spirit, by which I will speak. In Your Name and thank You! Amen."

Here are the strategies 17-20: 

17. If they are shy about reading, you can ask them to "whisper read" to themselves, as you (or a stronger reader) read out loud. They may warm up and decide they want to read. Sometimes, they may be overwhelmed by several unknown words, or by other classmates being present.  I've had students talk a lot, and read freely, when they arrived early, and there were just three or so of them. However, when other students started coming, they would clam up.

18. Allow them have a "reading buddy" like a stuffed animal, another favorite toy, etc.  My daughter used to talk and sing to and "teach" her stuffed animals, and would sometimes "talk" through them to me. That may be a key for your otherwise-shy reader, to get the focus off themselves, so they'll relax and read out loud.  Before COVID, some of the teachers in public schools I worked in let their younger elementary kids bring stuffed animals to class to read to aloud. They loved it!

19. Give them lots of praise and encouragement along the way. We all want to feel like we’re doing a great job! Be selective, but pour it on as appropriate.

20. If you are a Believer in Jesus Christ and have the freedom, use Bible stories, worship song lyrics, and more for them to read.

Today, I had my 5th graders (online) read out loud about our God-ordained country of the United States America and our flag (I learned from KLOVE.com this morning that it's Flag Day! So I seized this opportunity to brag on how God inspired people to found this country so we'd have the freedom to worship Him and love and live and promote His Word!).  I also had them read a pamphlet from a ministry which I scanned in, called "Student Legal Rights on Public School Campuses" (There were 10 listed, from RevivalFires.com).

After that, I had the students read out loud something I wrote years ago, called "The Great Plan." (It is based on Jeremiah 29:11, although I didn't list the verse, but the heart of it, about the importance of choices and how they shape each student's life--and the lives of those around him or her. I wrote it to use as a discipline writing assignment--but the students loved it, and wanted extra copies to share! Hallelujah!). Many people have become born again by learning English through reading God-breathed materials, so ask the LORD for wisdom and boldness, and to help you choose materials, then go for it!

Of all these years of teaching in public schools, and online, I don't ever remember being challenged by a student, or a parent, and only once by administration (but not about having the kids read aloud; the enemy attack (even though rather subtle) had to do with me writing, "Jesus loves you and so do I!" on the blackboard, and I was told to take it off, because "...we'd have to put (the names of others) on the board, too," etc. etc., ad nauseum.

Anyway, I said nothing, but the kids noticed Jesus's name was gone, and they were upset! I had told the principal who insisted I take it off respectfully but clearly, that "Jesus is the only One Who rose again, and that He's coming back, and that things are chaning!"  He didn't say anything, and the LORD told me to put, "You are loved by Everyone (Capital "Everyone"!) that matters!" 

Go for it. The LORD your God will guide you, and He's always got your back! 

¹⁷ But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.--isaiah 54:17, AMPC

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.