Are you looking for ways to support students who do not understand text while reading silently? If so, keep reading.
1. Make sure the student is practicing comprehension skills that are causally related to high interest reading learning activities (e.g., adventure, romance, mystery, sports, etc.).
2. Create a list of main points from the student’s reading content written on the student’s reading level.
3. Alter or adjust reading content to the student’s capacity and ability level.
4. Record complicated reading content for the student to listen to as they read along.
5. Get the student to take notes while reading to enable comprehension.
6. Teach the student meanings of abbreviations to assist in comprehending content read.
7. Get the student to underline or highlight essential points in reading content.
8. Get the student to orally rephrase content they have just read to assess their comprehension.
9. Spotlight essential points before the student reads the designated content silently.
10. Teach new vocabulary words prior to having the student read the content.
11. Get the student to read progressively longer segments of reading content to build comprehension skills (e.g., start with one paragraph and progress to several sections, short stories, chapters, etc.).
12. Give the student a quiet space (e.g., carrel, study booth, etc.) where they may go to take part in reading learning activities.
13. Make sure that the reading requirements of all subjects and tasks are within the capacity and ability level of the student. If they are not, adjust the reading content to the student’s capacity and ability level.
14. Teach the student when reading to look for keywords and main ideas that answer “Who, What, Where, On occasions where, How, and Why” (e.g., “Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain to discover the New World during the year 1492.”).
15. Provide the student high interest reading content on their capacity and ability level (e.g., comic books, adventure stories, etc.) requiring them to answer the questions “Who, What, Where, On occasions where, How, and Why.”
16. Consider using AI to teach reading comprehension.
17. Consider using Alexa to teach reading skills.
18. Try using one of our many apps designed to teach literacy skills and help students with reading issues:
10 Apps That Teach Your Child to Read
7 Must-Have Apps to Make Learners Love Reading
7 Must-Have Phonics Apps and Tools
9 Reading Apps and Tools for the Elementary Classroom
The Tech Edvocate’s List of 24 Literacy Apps, Tools & Resources
