I have 2 kids that need help in reading Can anyone help Fluency and comprehension?

Question

I have a second and a fourth grader I could use any info. on how to help them or where to get help. Thanks

Answer 1

I "second the motion" on the reading with CD's or tapes.  My son's neurologist suggested this.  He reads grade level or above grade level books as he listens to the CD's.  This teaches him to track the text more quickly than he would normally do when reading aloud.  It also allows him to learn to read with normal inflections and phrasing.  He presents with dyslexic symptoms and left to his own devices, tends to slip into a mechanical, monotoned kind of pattern when reading aloud.  When we do our reading aloud, I can make those suggestions to him and he hears it when I read my section of the passage, but this gives him another voice, doing it "correctly,"  to model.

For independent reading (for pleasure), I do not control the level of the text.  He chooses what he wishes.  If he chooses a simpler level of reading, that is fine.  It allows him to feel accomplished.  We can work on higher levels in the context of classwork, but reading for pleasure should be just that......pleasurable and not cause frustration.   Also, for independent reading, we spend the 1/2 hr or so reading our own books.  I would tell him interesting snipets about the book I was reading, and now he started doing the same for me.  I didn't have to ask him to do it, modeling the behavior was enough.

Also, relative to comprehension, I suggest a methodical program called Milestones in Reading. Here is a link:

http://www.rainbowresource.com/search.ph...

It takes the child through a series of reading passages and specific types of comprehension questions.  It then allows you to analyze the results for very focused intervention.  You get a glimpse into what your child is missing when reading the text and then you can provide some additional  attention to teaching them how to get that information out of the material.  What to look for.  How to think about the text to get clues to that type of information.

Answer 2

I'm guessing you've already done this, but in case you haven't, find a good phonics based reading program. There is a book called "Learn to read in 100 easy lessons" that might be helpful, particularly if your younger child missed the basics. It's too easy for your fourth grader, though. Another excellent program is Alpha Phonics by Samuel Blumenfeld - http://www.howtotutor.com/

Also, keep your lessons short and simple. The best way to create a reading problem is to force a student who is simply not ready, developmentally. Can you get books on tape (or CD) from your local library? Listening to them in the car or at bedtime will help develop your children's "ear" for language and that will help when trying to comprehend words in their own reading.

Answer 3

I agree with most of the answers given I have used alpha phonics and am still using it.  It helps out a lot.  My slowest reader now reads very well most of it is due to alpha phonics. The other great motivator is weekly reader six flags program the free pizza and free six flags ticket was a real motivator and she still has not notice she is reading so much better.  Oh yea I did not put pressure on her as to what level book to read we went to the library and I let her check out as many as she could carry........and she upgraded the levels on her own.  Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Improving Fluency

The best way to help a child to read fluently is to simply have him read frequently. Spend at least 30 minutes every day reading with your children. What the 30 minutes looks like will vary based on the age and skill level of your children.

If you have a non-reader(a child who cannot read), you read a line, then have your child repeat the line to learn inflection and phrasing. Also, read to your child to demonstrate what a good reader sounds like.

If you have a young reader, read a page and then have your child read a page. If this is too difficult, switch every paragraph. Re-reading books over again is another great strategy that will help teach expression and reading in phrases. Make sure that he pauses at the end of sentences and puts the correct inflection in his voice for exclamation points and question marks.

If you have a young fluent reader, encourage reading a variety of books. Also allow your fluent reader to read to their younger siblings.

Improving Comprehension

There are three basic strategies that when used can help improve a child’s reading comprehension.

Before Reading Strategies

“Before reading” activities happen before reading a new book. Have your child predict what the book is about by looking at the front cover and doing a picture walk through the book. A picture walk is "walking" through the book, looking at pictures and talking about what is happening with out reading the words. Guide young children to use basic logic skills while looking at the pictures to form an idea of what the story will be about. This will help hone prediction skills and will give them a set of ideas about the story that they can use to help decode any unfamiliar words they come across while reading.

During Reading Strategies

“During reading” activities happen while reading the actual text. Think up questions that you can ask as you read. Questions can be as simple as “what did she say?” requiring simple recall or as difficult as “why did she say that?” requiring an inference. Make sure your children understand what is going on in the story and what they think will happen next before you turn the page. When you ask a difficult question, show your children how to find the answer by re-reading a part of the story.

After Reading Strategies

“After reading” activities occur after you have finished reading the story. See if your children can tell you what happened at the beginning, in the middle and in the end of the story. Have them identify the characters, the setting, the plot and the solution. Ask who, what, where, when, how and why questions. These questions should be appropriately tailored to each age group. Ask how the characters felt when something specific happened in the story, requiring your children to infer and connect to the text. Encourage them to look back in the story for answers they cannot remember and show them how to do so.

Reading is only half the battle when it comes to comprehension. Engaging your children in the story will pay off in greater comprehension of what they are reading. The more you practice for reading fluency and comprehension, the better readers your children will become.

Answer 5

My son's comprehension went up several grade levels in the first year of homeschooling.

The secret was reading.   We read aloud and took turns reading.   He listened to  audio tapes while he read.   This made the reading less painful for him.

He still doesn't like to read, but he doesn't hate it as much as he did 3 years ago.