reaching and teaching reluctant readers

Reaching & Teaching Reluctant Readers

Katie McKnight, Ph.D.Katie@KatherineMcKnight.com

www.KatherineMcKnight.com

Twitter: @LiteracyWorld

Facebook: Katie McKnight Literacy

What do we know about our students’ reading?

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What do we know about readers?

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Grade 4 Grade 8 Grade 12

At or Above Proficient on 2002 NAEP Reading

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Black

Hispanic

Grigg, W.S., Daane, M.C., Jin, Y., & Campbell, J.R. (2003). The nation’s report card: Reading 2002. Jessup, MD: Education Publications Center.

Students Most At Risk

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Grade 4 Grade 8 Grade 12

Below Basic on 2002 NAEP Reading

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Black

Hispanic

Grigg, W.S., Daane, M.C., Jin, Y., & Campbell, J.R. (2003). The nation’s report card: Reading 2002. Jessup, MD: Education Publications Center.

Components of Reading

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Alphabetics: understanding and using the sounds thatmake up words (phonemic awareness) and the letters thatcorrespond to those sounds (decoding) and being able torelate the letters and sounds to the particular words theyrepresent (word recognition)

Fluency: identifying words accurately in an effortlessmanner and being able to read them in text with appropriateintonation, stress and phrasing

Vocabulary: knowing and understanding the meanings ofwords and using them with flexibility and precision

Comprehension: the process and product of constructingmeaning from what is read, involving an interaction betweena reader and a text, for a purpose and within a context

The difference between struggling and reluctant readers

• Motivating our students to actually read

• Creating choice and gathering engaging resources.

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Let’s Look at Strategies

• Differentiated Instruction in Reading

• Getting Books in the Hands of Kids

• Multimodal Learning 8

Differentiation Strategies for Struggling Readers

• Provide readers who struggle to decode with opportunities to hear the text read aloud (tape assist)

• Give readers for whom word recognition is a problem supplemental materials that include visual clues to word meaning (or use manipulatives in math)

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• Allot additional time for readers who struggle to complete assignments

• Encourage struggling readers to use the internet because often the symbols and icons that are quite bothersome to good readers provide a means for struggling readers to construct meaning

Differentiation Strategies for Struggling Readers

Reading and Recreational Reading

• “Reading ability is positively correlated with the extent to which students read recreationally.” -National Center for Education Statistics.

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Activity

• Have you now or have you ever been a reluctant reader?

• What is your reading autobiography?

Please turn to 3-4 of your colleagues and discuss

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Why don’t kids read?

• By the time that kids reach middle school and high school, reluctant readers often:– Equate reading with failure– Connect reading to school-related

tasks

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SOME STRATEGIES FOR RELUCTANT READERS

Before Reading ActivityThink Aloud

• Using sticky notes, demonstrate how readers use the “voice in his head” to:– ask questions– comment on the reading– make predictions– make personal connections

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Stop and Write

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Why Literature Circles?

It’s a translation of the adult reading group.

Offers a genuine and authentic reading experience.

Literature Circles are also known as book clubs, and reading groups.

(See my website for more materials on Literature Circles)

Get Books in the Hands of Kids!

• Books that attract reluctant readers include:– A catchy cover– Print size is larger

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Get Books in the Hands of Kids!

• Books that attract reluctant readers include:– Artwork is exciting and resembles

the “real world”.– Writing is not composed of longer

convoluted sentences: more straightforward.

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Get Books in the Hands of Kids!

• Books that attract reluctant readers include:– Acceptable literary quality.– High Interest “hook” within the

first 10-15 pages.

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Books that attract reluctant readers include:

• Interesting characters• Not too many characters

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Books that attract reluctant readers include:

• Plot sustains interest• Plot is developed through events and

dialogue.• Limits lengthy narration.• Themes that are appealing to teenagers.

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Reluctant Readers Like Books that:

• Present role models.• Demonstrate problem solving in

action.• Allow to feel like

winners/overcoming odds.• Display relationships of all sorts.• Capture intensity and uncertainty of

their life.• Help develop of socially responsible

behavior

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Reluctant Readers Like Books with…

• Single Point of View• Graphic Novels • Comic Books

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Helping Reluctant Readers, Now

• Library Card• Talking about books• Talking about books in the classroom and in

the school building• Contests• Allowing for Student Choice• Keep current about books

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How to Reach Me

• Email: Katie@KatherineMcKnight.com• Website: www.KatherineMcKnight.com

• Twitter: @literacyworld• Facebook: Katie McKnight Literacy

For more materials and updated powerpoint, see my blog at www.KatherineMcKnight.com

and http://goo.gl/J242X for additional

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