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10 Tips to Help Students Be Better Readers

by Tonja Taylor
3/05/2022 / Education

Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.--Psalm 33:20, AMPC

I have used these tips in public school, and online, in various combinations, to help readers enjoy reading and grow in their skills and confidence. God wants to help every student be a better reader, and these are strategies He's given me, that I learned from someone else, or with which He personally inspired me. I know they can help your reader(s) be streonger and more confident readers, too!

(1) Allow the reader to choose a book that appeals to them. There is great power and confidence in being free to choose.

(2) If it is too difficult, you can assign a "reading buddy"--a more confident and skilled reader--to read the work out loud the first time (or at least part of it). This will allow the less-skilled reader to hear the text, including correct articulation, pitch, pauses for punctuation, etc.

(3) If it is too easy, let the reader grow in confidence as he or she reads it to a buddy, or even better (if there's time, although it's a great thing to make time, like on Friday afternoons, etc.), to the class, family, friends, or whomever will listen (Grandmas and Grandpas are excellent at this!).

(4) Things can often sound differently to our brains than when we read silently, so have your student(s) read out loud as often as possible; in school, at home, etc. You can have them "whisper read," which is literally whispering, but it's still out-loud reading, that their brains can hear.

(5) Have them write their opinions, questions, or other thoughts about what they've read. You can have them look at a cover of a book or an ilustration for a story, and predict what they think the story is about, before they read it. Then follow up and discuss it after the reading(s).

(6) Allow them to draw pictures or write thoughts, while they listen to others read. I used to think this was a distraction, but many, like myself and my daughter, prefer to take notes and/or draw pictures, and are truly activily listening! (Now my daughter is an accomplished artist, and has her four-year university degree in commercial art, as well as her own online business selling her art. She has also drawn some interesting art while in church, and many pictures that I'm using in my published books and stories!)

(7) Gradually increase the difficulty, or "level," of books for each reader. Wean those away from picture books, to books with just a few pictures, until they are reading chapter books, which usually only have pictures on the covers.

You can find the proper level(s) for your student(s) by checking the Lexile and ATOS numbers. The Lexile level assesses the complexity of the text, so it can be matched with the reader's level, and the ATOS number guides the reader to books that are considered most appropriate for their reading levels.

These are matched with the core standards for students, which is very important to teachers, and often, to parents.

(8) Pray for your reader(s) daily--and let them know you are praying! When I taught in public schools (as a sub, then as a full-time teacher) and told my students I prayed for them daily, it greatly encouraged them, and helped strengthen our relationship. When a student trusts the leader, they are more confident that they can overcome their struggles--reading and otherwise--and the LORD gets the glory.

(9) Have friendly competitions, such as reading the most books, and doing book reports to turn in. The LORD gave me the idea for "P.O.W.E.R. Readers," for my fourth-grade English class, and the student who read the most books during a week would get to wear the crown. They had to turn in book reports of a page long, so I'd have proof that they really read the book(s). They enjoyed that.

When I taught K5 at a Christian school, I would have the kids write out Scriptures and memorize them, or read them out loud to me, and when they did a certain number, they got to choose a prize (which I bought with my own money) from the "store." They loved it, and I'm thankful I was able to help them hide more of the Word of God in their hearts!

(As my pastor and other ministers have stated, children don't have a "junior Holy Spirit. They have The Holy Spirit," and I know that, when I received my first Bible at age 7, the LORD helped me start understanding it. I received Christ Jesus as my Savior two years later, and He started really helping me understand the Bible! I led my own daughter to Christ Jesus at age 5 (Hallelujah!), and she loved the Bible and church so much! The Word dwells in her richly today!)

(10) Have them write letters to others, and lists of thing to be thankful for. The LORD gave me both of these ideas for that same fourth-grade class. The kids loved them!

Then, I'd let them read their letters (which they wrote to real kids at a real orphanage), and their thank-you lists out loud. (They wrote lists fin complete sentences for the "Thanksgiving Time Capsules" they did in November that year. I required 100 things to write that they were thankful for, and one student hit 100 and wanted to keep going. His list included 200 things he was thankful for! Hallelujah!).

They enjoyed the writing (a few struggled with writing 100 things, but their classmates helped them) and the reading out loud, so it was a win-win (as the inspirations of the LORD always are!)!

These tips can help your readers in many ways, whether in school or at home. Of course, the ultimate reading material is the Bible, and there are many versions--even illustrated ones--that are very appealing to chilldren. The sooner they read His Word, the likelier they are to come to Christ at a young age, and grow greatly in their respect for the Word! They and we can never have too much of the Word of God. His Word is life!

1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.2 He was present originally with God.3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. 4 In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].--John 1:1-5, 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.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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