Reading is a daunting task for some children, and they struggle to read. Children with attention disorders have trouble focusing on the reading material. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that causes difficulty in reading.
Some may not have any diagnosed condition but have gaps in phonemic awareness. They find it difficult to understand the relationship between the letters and their sounds. Factors contributing to reading difficulty are poor exposure to language, lack of instruction, and biological factors.
Teaching approaches like Orton Gillingham training are designed to help struggling readers. Children must develop reading skills during the first few years at school. Difficulty in reading affects the performance of the child. Children struggling to read fall behind others in the class. It causes low self-esteem and lack of confidence which may affect the child.
Find the reading level
Children struggle to read when asked to read books higher than their current reading level. If they are given materials that match their reading level, the child will read better, and the interest to read will increase.
Let the children choose
Children become more interested in reading when they choose the books they have to read. Let them pick subjects in which they have a genuine interest. By giving children an option to choose, they have greater control over picking a book of their interest. They will show more interest in reading and improve their reading skills.
Realistic goals
While helping the children struggling to read, it is essential not to overwhelm them. A child’s reading ability, interest, and attention span play a significant role in staying motivated to read. Set small goals initially, which helps children to complete tasks easily and it would motivate them to read more.
Set a routine
Children should read books as a part of their daily routine. Practicing it every day helps them to improve their skills. Start with a few minutes of reading, and it should be increased as the child develops an interest in it.
Visualize the content
Teachers and parents must help the child to visualize what they read. They should draw a picture describing the scene or act it out in front of the child. Making a connection between things helps children to understand new ideas.
Monitor the changes
All children do not show improvements in reading at the same pace. Some children constantly struggle to read the words in a book. Children do not speak about their difficulty in reading, which may cause anxiety and embarrassment in the future. Parents and teachers should monitor the child’s reading skills, and if problems are found, they must be addressed immediately.
Why is reading important?
Improves concentration
Reading makes children focus and concentrate on the words to understand the content. Improving concentration and focus helps them to perform better at school.
Boosts critical thinking skills
Reading enhances analytical thinking skills. Children challenge their brains to think and imagine what may happen in the story before reading it.
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Enhances imagination
Children develop a visual picture while reading. They try to connect the character and the events. Sometimes they relate the characters to their feelings, which boosts their imagination.
Strengthens language skills
Children learn more words and get more exposed to the content by reading regularly. They get more used to the sounds the words make, and their vocabulary improves. It helps them to become more well-spoken and articulate.
There are many ways to help children who struggle to read. Reading approaches like Orton Gillingham training are helpful to children of all ages. Each child faces a different struggle and needs different strategies to help them. With persistent efforts and patience, all children can overcome the difficulty in reading and become more confident about their reading skills.
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