Emergent reading is a crucial stage in a child’s literacy development and can be challenging for some students. However, with the right support and strategies, teachers can help struggling emergent readers overcome difficulties and build a strong foundation for future reading success. Here are eight research-backed ways to aid struggling emergent readers.
- Phonemic Awareness: Phonemic awareness recognizes and manipulates individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. Research shows that teaching phonemic awareness skills to emergent readers can significantly improve their reading fluency and comprehension.
- Phonics Instruction: Phonics instruction teaches students the relationship between letters and sounds, essential for decoding words. Research has consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of phonics instruction in supporting emergent readers, especially those who are struggling.
- Fluency Practice: Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and expression. Struggling emergent readers can benefit from fluency practice, such as repeated or timed readings of standard text. In addition, regular fluency practice can help build confidence and improve reading accuracy.
- Vocabulary Development: A strong vocabulary is crucial for understanding text and connecting new information and prior knowledge. Research shows vocabulary instruction can help struggling emergent readers improve their comprehension and reading success.
- Comprehension Instruction: Comprehension is the ability to understand what is being read. Research indicates that explicit instruction in comprehension strategies, such as making connections, predicting, and summarizing, can help struggling emergent readers improve their understanding of the text.
- Small Group Instruction: Small group instruction provides targeted support and allows teachers to differentiate instruction based on individual student needs. Research has shown that small group instruction can effectively improve the reading skills of struggling emergent readers.
- Home-School Connections: Involving families in their child’s literacy development can significantly impact reading success. Research indicates that home-school connections, such as sending home books for families to read together, can improve the reading skills of struggling emergent readers.
- Technology Integration: Technology can be a valuable tool for supporting emergent readers, particularly struggling readers. Research suggests that technology-based reading programs, such as online games and interactive books, can improve reading fluency, accuracy, and comprehension.
There are many effective strategies that teachers can use to support struggling emergent readers. These research-backed strategies, including phonemic awareness instruction, phonics instruction, fluency practice, vocabulary development, comprehension instruction, small group instruction, home-school connections, and technology integration, can help struggling emergent readers overcome their difficulties and build a strong foundation for future reading success.
