Reading Instruction: Teaching Strategies for Parents and Teachers

Strategies for Improving Reading Skills

Teachers and Parents

Many reading instruction strategies can be useful for teachers, parents and tutors alike. As a teacher, you can offer helpful reading practice, such as reading aloud in order to help children hear the sound of words formulated together. You can assign students books based on their interests and you can encourage them to continue to strengthen their reading skills by pursuing these interests.

If you're a parent, you can offer one-on-one attention for long periods of time, and help your child sound out words and comprehend meaning. You can also read with your child and play reading-related games at home.

Creating and Nurturing a Love of Reading

Thoughtful reading instruction can teach your child or your students how to love reading rather than view it as a chore. Developing a love for reading and having strong reading skills is important for school, everyday life and future careers. In the classroom, have your students pick books from age-appropriate lists and stock the bookshelves for quiet reading time. As a parent or guardian, it's important to do this at home as well. Create time each day to read with your child.

Reading Comprehension and Fluency

Two of the most essential components to becoming a strong reader are fluency and comprehension. Fluency is the gauge of how smoothly a child is able to read. Does your child stammer or stumble over certain passages? Fluency can be improved through repetition and the memorization of common words, also known as sight words. Write sight words on flash cards and have your class or child call them out.

As a teacher, you can increase reading comprehension by having class discussions about a text. Analyze character motivation and have your class make predictions about what may happen later in the story. As a parent, you can do the same activity at home. Read the same book as your child and discuss it over dinner.

Useful Reading Resources

There are many resources available that can help your child improve his or her reading skills. At your local library or bookstore, you'll be able to find a wide range of materials you can use for reading instruction. There are also many reading games, activities, quizzes, tests and worksheets available online for free and for purchase.

If your child or a child in your class is struggling to read, then he or she may need help outside of school. As a teacher, you may be able to provide a child with one-on-one instruction after school, or provide the child's parents with helpful advice. As a parent, it might become necessary to hire a reading tutor.