How do you teach a teenager how to read?

Question

I have a former student who is 14 and is on a third grade reading level. What can I do to help him with this problem?

Answer 1

Well you can start from the basicsin reading,Make his parents aware(if they are not already) of the situation and offer extra help for him. By you teaching him on your time and getting a tutor or a certified teacher to teach him at home on his time... I found that these methods work. Find his interest and give him book on those interest for him to read..

Answer 2

Reading is instrumental. I read the other post they all say read, find like interest and so on. However, there are interactive ways to encourage his growth in reading. Find books that interest him. As the teacher, you read the book and compose fun activities. On www.enchantedlearning.com , it has a series of graphic organizers that helps aif the story. It is best to find something that can be expanded on.

These activities will help increase his understanding of the material as well. You need to assess his reading ability. His independent reading level, teaching level, and his comprehension level. Then you adjust the book selections based upon his different skill level.

Try to aviod frustrating situations where he becomes overwhelmed with the reading.

Answer 3

I suggest a rigid 3 day one hour reading tutorial session. See what topics or areas of interest they like and find books, magazines, journals, etc. which they can read. Since, they are on 3rd grade level, you may want to use some basic phonic techniques. Ask them to write, because writing and reading should be combine. If you get this student to write some basic sentences and eventually paragraphs this will help.

Answer 4

I would begin with making sure the student is able to identify all the letters by name and the sound that they make. I would then work on identifying sight words. A good way to remember sight words is to trace the written word, finger-write it in the air (that puts it in your brain in a different way for different learners), write it three times (or more) and then use it in a sentence. Keep reviewing the sight words until they become words that are recognizable on sight, without thought.

Then start finding these words in stories, textbooks, store ads, comic books, anything and everything.

Make sure that the student is able to create complete sentences, verbally, and then practice by writing them down.

Kids are ALWAYS more interested in learning if it is a subject they can relate to, so find books with subjects this student likes; basketball, cooking, animals, make-believe, etc.

Practice, practice, practice! Practice reading in front of the student, read with the child, to the child and then have the student read to you. Show the value of reading in your life and the world at large.

Answer 5

Practice is the obvious answer. But this will only work if your teen is motivated to read. Find out his/her interests first, and then give them something a bit more challenging than a 3rd grade level, but make it something they want to read about. Even if its just a comic book, or the sports page in the paper....Have them read it, and then have them explain in an oral or written summary what the reading was about. Very imporant: Give them positive reinforcement for reading...always.

Answer 6

Give him something to read that he is interested in. Get him excited about reading by giving him a goal to reach. When I was a kid my reason for learning to read was so that i could read a specific book that I had.
Don't treat him like he is in 3rd grade, and never let him feel lower than other kids his age, this can lead to giving up and other social problems. Reinforce him with positive encouragement at every chance you get, but most importantly allow him to feel that he is doing it for himself first and foremost.
It may also help to focus less on how it will help his future and give him some reasons that it will help him immediately.

Answer 7

The same way you teach any beginner .Start as though he knows nothing,because what ever he learned was wrong . Make sure that the reason was not his sight going bad or dyslexia. Talk to his parents they may not be able to help him at home if they can not read , and they can tell you about any Medical records .
Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Try to get him evaluated by a professional first. His current school districts should be able to the evaluation at no charge.
To help him/her, they first have to find out the exact nature of his/her problem. (Maybe dyslexia/other Learning Disability, visual processing disorder i.e.)
Once the tests are completed and evaluated, they should be able to tell which area his weaknesses are. If it is a decoding problem: There are some great programs out there that help with this and other problems.
For more detailed support and information, you could got to www.ldonline.org. they are by far the most comprehensive site for learning disabilities and their information and message boards are very helpful.

Answer 9

10 Ways to be a better reader...
1. Read
2. Read
3. Read
4. Read
5. Read
6. Read
7. Read
8. Read
9. Read
10. Read
Reading volumes of texts also improves spelling skills and vocabulary.

Answer 10

Teaching people to read is generally the same, regardless of age- but you will need special patience with a teenager. Just be helpful, supportive, and don't give up on him. =)
Forgive me if this is not exactly what you were looking for.