A New Way to Enhance Reading Skills for Students

Every teacher wants their students to see succeed academically and in life as well. One of the important skills that every student needs to learn is reading, it just not only helps students to achieve academic success but also helps in their future career as well.

Many students struggle with retaining information and comprehending the lessons they are reading in their class, especially nowadays, because the desire for reading among students is getting diminished. According to a survey of renaissance.com, it has been found out that most of the students read less than 15 minutes a day.

 

This is where reading strategies and techniques becomes more important, it not only gives the ability to read but to comprehend what has been written as well. Read our blog post, to know some of the new approaches to reading techniques and strategies which you can teach your students so that they can improve their reading skills.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started!

Skills Required for Reading & Comprehension Of Written Text

Before we jump into knowing the reading strategies which you can teach to your student, you must focus on the teaching theme first about what skills they need to possess for better reading skills. Reading and comprehending is not figuring out what every word means, it’s much more than that. It takes a variety of skills to master the art of reading and comprehending it. Some of those Skills are -

• Vocabulary knowledge- It is essential for understanding the words used in a text. Students should have a strong vocabulary base to comprehend the meaning of unfamiliar words encountered while reading.
   
• Fluency- It refers to the ability to read smoothly and at an appropriate pace. When students are fluent readers, they can focus more on understanding the content rather than decoding individual words.
   
• Text Structure- Understanding text structure is another crucial skill for reading comprehension. Different genres and types of texts have distinct structures, such as cause and effect, problem-solution, or compare and contrast. By recognizing these text structures, students can better organize the information and grasp the main ideas.
   
• Inferencing- It is the ability to draw conclusions or make educated guesses based on the information provided in the text. This skill requires students to use their prior knowledge, context clues, and critical thinking to fill in the gaps and make connections.

Now we know what skill is required, it’s time to know some of the best strategies which you can introduce to your students.

7 Strategies for reading improvement

1. Find Your Reading Partner

Having reading partners is an efficient method for enhancing reading abilities. These partners may be from the same or a different grade level. When students read with a partner, they may discuss what they're reading, share ideas, and assist one another with comprehension. When students collaborate, they can clarify confusing passages, ask questions, and make connections with other students as well.

From this one of the new approaches to reading method, students were not just able to learn reading skills but they will be able to polish their social skills as well.

2. Use Visualization Method

Visualization is an effective method that enables students to generate mental images while reading. By visualizing the events, characters, and settings in a text, students can improve their comprehension and have a more enjoyable reading experience. Teachers can encourage students to visualize the scenes described in the text, draw pictures, or even use digital tools to create visual representations. Students are able to connect with the material on a deeper level and retain the details better when they visualize it.

3. Read Aloud

Reading aloud is a straightforward and effective method for enhancing reading comprehension. When students read out loud, they not only improve their fluency and pronunciation, but also their comprehension of the text. By hearing and listening to their own voice, students can be able to comprehend every word even the difficult one, they can identify errors and rectify them and they can be able to find and remember key points as well.

4. Group Reading

One of the effective New Approaches to Reading is Group reading or “Choral reading”, in which a group of students reads a text together. This technique improves students' fluency, comprehension, and pronunciation. When students read in unison, they can hear the correct pronunciation of words, observe the cadence, and experience the rhythm of the text. In addition to promoting a sense of community and cooperation, choral reading encourages students to read and comprehend the text collaboratively. Teachers can choose texts appropriate for choral reading and direct students to synchronize their reading.

5. Class Discussion

Class discussions can prove to be an integral part of the reading process. After reading a text, it is essential to provide students with opportunities to share their thoughts, pose questions, and engage in meaningful conversations. Discussions in the classroom provide students with the opportunity to articulate their opinions, examine numerous points of view, and develop their capacity for critical thought.

Teachers can facilitate these conversations by posing questions with open-ended responses, encouraging active participation, and fostering respectful discourse. By participating in class discussions, students can enhance their text comprehension and learn from their peers.

6. Quiz Time

Conducting quizzes related to any lesson is an efficient method for evaluating students' comprehension and reinforcing their knowledge of the text. Teachers should create quizzes that focus on key concepts, main ideas, or particular details from the reading. These examinations may consist of multiple-choice queries, short-answer responses, or even discussions.

By conducting quiz sessions, teachers can identify areas in which students may be struggling and provide individualized support and feedback. Additionally, quizzes encourage students to engage actively with the text and examine the material to ensure comprehension.

7. Evaluate Their Development by Posing Questions

One of the New Approaches to Reading strategy called "Question the text" basically encourages students to pose questions as they read. Students become active readers who actively seek answers, make predictions, and think critically about the material by interrogating the text. Teachers can instruct students on how to formulate factual, inferential, and evaluative questions. This strategy helps in the development of student’s comprehension skills, promotes metacognitive thought, and encourages independent reading.

Implement New Approaches to Reading Strategies

Reading is a fundamental ability that is essential for academic and lifelong success for every student and those teachers who have pursued courses like Certificate in Pre and Primary Teacher Training Course, know it really well.

Teachers must focus to create an environment for students so that students can have active engagement, collaboration, and most importantly fun while reading. As a teacher, you can achieve this by implementing the above-mentioned strategies into your teaching practices.

Find the right course for you and try out the course. WhatsApp us at: +66-81-262-8832. You can also mail us at act@asiancollegeofteachers.com

Written By : Park Jin Ae