Overall, keep in mind that struggling readers and new readers need to get the idea that reading should make sense and feel comfortable. When they read aloud, it should sound as natural as talking
.
Have fun and be encouraging!

If you know someone who is struggling with reading, you can help.

   
1. Read to the struggling reader. Be sure your reader can see the text so he or she can follow along with you silently.
 
2. If the reader is capable of reading pretty well, you can take turns with paragraphs or whole pages. Keep in mind that the reader is still struggling with the process, so your reading will help keep the focus on the meaning of the story.
 
3. If the reader gets stuck or reads the wrong word, give a meaning based clue or just give her the word. The reader needs to learn to better use predictive (not guessing) strategies, so don’t have the reader sounding out words.

Leave the teaching of phonics to the teachers.
 
4. Be sure the reader is not using her finger or a bookmark. Our eyes sometimes move ahead on the page when reading naturally. Covering the page and forcing word by word or line by line reading takes away an important reading strategy.
 
5. Have discussions about what you are reading together. Instead of asking questions and making the reading into a test, just share with each other thoughts on what was interesting so that your reader gets the idea that reading should make sense and be fun.
 
6. If the reader can hardly read, follow idea number 1 and every once in a while, have the reader mimic you. Show the reader the sentence. Then have the reader repeat the sentence so that it sounds smooth and natural, just like talking.
 
7. Be a reader yourself. The other readers in your home need to see that you value reading, and that it’s a regular part of your day.