Comprehension

Can you recommend any books that are at a lower reading level but would still appeal to older students?

It can be difficult to find books that have high interest and are also written at a level so that children with reading challenges can enjoy them. A good starting point would be to talk the special education teachers, reading specialist, and librarian at your child's school. In addition to recommended books, you may also want to ask for suggestions of children's magazines. Magazines tend to have appeal for all students and have many advantages for struggling readers because of their interesting and current topics, large number of graphics, short articles, and "adult" look. Also consider asking the librarian for suggestions of books of poems. There are some hilarious contemporary poets out there whose poems have mass kid appeal. And because poems, like magazine articles, are short, they are instantly gratifying and provide an immediate sense of accomplishment for all readers.

The following articles provide suggestions for ways to encourage reading, describe the benefits of reading aloud to children, and list book titles for reluctant readers:

• 10 Tips for Summer Reading Fun
• Increasing Motivation: Reading Tips From Kids
• Encouraging Your Child to Read
• When Kids Hate to Read
• How Can I Improve My Child's Reading?
• Tips for Encouraging Kids to Read

This next set of articles provides information about choosing books, audio books, poetry, read aloud books, determining a child's reading level, and lists other recommended books:

• Children's Books and Authors
• Hooking Struggling Readers: Using Books They Can and Want to Read
• Using Audio Books to Create Readers
• Using Poetry to Teach Reading

I am looking for ways to improve my child's comprehension and speed reading skills. How do I go about this?

If you choose to work directly with your child, the following articles are full of suggestions and ideas for increasing reading comprehension skills:

• Reading Aloud to Build Comprehension
• Improving Reading Comprehension for Students
• Comprehension Instruction: What Works
• Tips for Encouraging Kids to Read
• Getting Your Child to Love Reading

You may also want to find a local tutor to work with your child. You can contact a tutor through a local university, church, library or in the yellow pages for your community. The LD OnLine Yellow Pages might also be helpful.

Lastly, school administrators and guidance counselors can help you locate services.

How can I help older students improve in reading comprehension?

There are a number of approaches to helping students organize their thinking and get the most out of textbooks. Some of the strategies, such as the SQ4R process, are useful in upper elementary, middle, high school, and college levels.

You may find the following articles of interest:

• Textbook Reading Strategies (Cuesta College)
• Improving the Reading Comprehension of High School Students
• Comprehension Instruction: What Makes Sense Now, What Might Make Sense Soon (Reading Online)
• Comprehension Instruction: What Works
• Balancing Authenticity and Strategy Awareness in Comprehension Instruction (53K PDF)* (Michigan State University)
• 20 Online Resources on Reading with Comprehension and Engagement (Reading Online)

Finally, the Learning Strategies Database at Muskingum College’s Center for Advancement of Learning (CAL) has an excellent website. It has an extremely comprehensive listing of reading comprehension strategies applicable to both secondary and postsecondary instruction.

How can I help my son develop his reading comprehension abilities?

We have a lot of information on our site about teaching comprehension skills and how parents can help at home. The following links can help you get started on helping your son develop his skills.

• Articles on Comprehension
• Strategies to Help Kids Who Struggle

If you have concerns, you may wish to discuss these with his teacher. The teacher may have strategies that work in the classroom that s/he can pass on to you. Together, you can determine the best course of action for helping your son.