General Suggestions for Struggling Readers
Six Things All Readers Should Do EVERYDAY (Allington & Gabriel, 2012)
1. Every child should read something he or she chooses.
*Personal choice is motivating and students read more when they choose their own books
*Research shows that access to self-selected text improves student performance
2. Every child should practice reading accurately.
* It’s not just the time spent with a book that improves reading, but the time where
students are reading with high success that will improve their reading (high success defined as 98%
accuracy)
* When students are able to read text accurately, they are also more likely to understand the text and to
enjoy reading it
3. Every child should read something he or she understands.
* Reading for meaning is the purpose of reading
* Often, struggling readers are taught skills in isolation, instead of in context
* More authentic reading develops better readers
4. Every child writes about something meaningful.
* Writing needs to be meaningful. Students are more likely to attend to grammar and spelling when they are
using their writing for purposeful communication
5. Every child talks with peers about reading and writing.
* Conversations with peers improves comprehension
* Peer conversation is especially important for English language learners, because it helps solidify the skill of
writing, speaking, reading and listening and the connections between each
6. Every child listens to a fluent adult read out loud.
* ALL grade level teachers should read to students aloud each day.