Rereading helps struggling readers
In order to positively impact reluctant readers, we must teach that rereading is a positive reading strategy, and something all strong readers do automatically!
I strongly believe that rereading is a positive reading comprehension strategy. In fact, rereading helps struggling readers build their reading fluency. As I was working on my masters in Literacy and Reading, I evaluated a second grader once. The school was seeking answers to why she was falling behind in reading comprehension. I made an interesting discovery. She believed she had to read fast and just get through the text. It didn’t matter to her if she stumbled over some words. Reading fast would define her as a “good” reader. She felt that if she stopped or reread something, then it would make her look inferior.
I was shocked to find this perception at such a young age. This girl already felt inferior because of how she read, to the point that she was willing to sacrifice comprehension. (Needless to say, she was unaware of what she was doing.) Unfortunately, I knew that if I didn’t help stop her approach, it would cause real damage. She would end up like most of the teens I worked with who felt the same way she did. Somewhere early in their education they believed the same lie. A lie that became one more habit that actually made their comprehension worse.
So, I told this young girl that “good” readers stopped and reread. I explained that rereading is something that is an automatic part of becoming a better reader. When your head says that didn’t make sense, then you stop, reread until it makes sense. That is NOT what “bad” readers do, it is what “good” readers do. It is just that we don’t see or hear “good” readers rereading. But it IS what they are doing. It is a basic positive and automatic reading strategy. (Even if they are unaware of the process).
The young girl and I spent the next four weeks practicing this technique. Soon she could automatically stop herself and reread, without me stopping her. Once she discovered that the process worked, her comprehension soared.
This young lady ultimately become an avid reader and strong student.
In order to positively impact reluctant readers, we must teach that rereading is a positive reading strategy, and something all strong readers do automatically!
Learn more about L.B. Tillit https://www.lbtillit.com/from-an-educators-perspective/
My Easy Read Books, LLC addresses the need for high interest level and low reading level books (Hi-Lo Books) to focus on creating complex plots to match the intellectual needs of the reader, while providing a reading level that allows for comprehension. https://www.myeasyreadbooks.com/
Blog Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio (Pexels)