In order for children to perform their best in school, they must learn to read fluently. But for kids with special needs, this important academic requirement can be very difficult. Children must first master phonemic awareness and a basic understanding of phonics before reading fluency and comprehension improves. Once a child has a good grasp of phonics, getting him to read fluently will be the next step.
Fluency Problems in Children With Reading Disabilities
If a child with special needs displays symptoms of a reading disability relating to reading mechanics, phonemic awareness, or phonics, then these issues must be addressed before expecting that child to read fluently. For more information on these reading issues, see Teaching Phonemic Awareness, or Teaching Phonics to Kids With Special Needs.
There may be kids with special needs who have difficulties with reading fluency, but actually have no trouble understanding the mechanics of reading. These children will have problems grasping the meaning of a sentence or paragraph in a story. Their reading is often choppy and when reading aloud, they may have little expression, or inappropriate expression. A child with fluency problems may read individual words perfectly, but sentences do not flow.
Strategies and Tips for Teaching Reading Fluency
If a child with special needs has reading problems when reading aloud, a teacher may want to try the following accommodations and tips in the classroom to improve reading fluency:
Sight Word Strategies
Words that are used frequently in sentences and paragraphs should be practiced often. Try providing ample opportunities for a child with special needs to read daily or weekly sight words, in many different orders, and time their reading when they seem to be improving. Place sight words into short and long sentences, and have them read these sentences over and over to themselves and out loud.
Vocabulary Word Strategies
Teach vocabulary words before students have to read passages containing those words. This will increase a student’s understanding of the story or sentence, and will help him recognize and pronounce the words. Use pictures and visuals to help teach each word’s meaning. Read a variety of stories to the class, which will illustrate the definitions of current vocabulary words.
Timed Reading
Give the student a certain amount of time to read a passage and have him mark how far he got in that time interval. Do this exercise with him multiple times and reward his improvements.
Reading Drills
Have a child read the same sentences or paragraphs many times until they have demonstrated that they can read it accurately, with the proper expression and understanding of the words. A teacher, aide, or student helper should monitor and correct any errors so that the student will not reinforce those errors. Consider modeling the correct reading before the student gets started.
Keep in mind that drills can be boring and tedious for children. Consider using sentences and quotes that are interesting from television shows, songs, and nursery rhymes that the children already know. Also, incorporate reading materials in the child’s particular area(s) of interest, such as sports, animals, or video games.
There are many ways to help children with reading disabilities in the regular classroom. Kids who fall behind in reading will struggle in all academic areas. Therefore, teachers need to apply some of these effective techniques, strategies, and tips to increase reading fluency. When children with special needs learn how to read fluently, they will gain an understanding of what they are reading, and this will put them a step closer to full reading comprehension.
Sources:
Carter, Nari; Prater, Mary Anne; and Dyches, Tina T., Making Accommodations and Adaptations for Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities. OH: Pearson Education Inc., 2009.
Cooley, Miles L., Ph. D., Teaching Kids with Mental Health & Learning Disorders in the Regular Classroom. MN: Free Spirit Publishing Inc., 2007.
Karen Plumley - Karen Plumley is a writer specializing in parenting and education. She works for Parenting NH and the Hippo, NH's most widely read ...
