Reading Comprehension Strategies for Students with Special Needs

Sobering Statistic: If a student has not learned to read by the time he or she is in the

third grade it is likely that they will have reading problems throughout life.

What Can We Do? Comprehension Strategies First Lines-Students read the first sentence and makes predictions about the

story. Anticipation Guide-Students listen to or read statements about concepts in the

text and agree or disagree with the statements. This helps activate prior knowledge.

Concept Sort-words from the story are placed in different concept categories Concept Maps-graphic organizer that asks the following: What is it? What is

it like? What are some examples? EX. rainforests Paired Reading-Partner Reading-Students with the same reading level or a

Proficient reader and a less proficient reader are placed together and they read and discuss text with each other.

Story Maps-Graphic organizers that allow a student to organize story elements Think Alouds-Teacher models out loud the strategies they are using as they

read orally Visual Imagery-(Richards, 2008), Students read a passage and visualize in

their heads ideas they thought about while reading.

What Can We Do?- cont.Jigsaw-Students are divided up into home groups. Each student

is given one aspect of the topic and they reform groups with those who have the same aspect as they do. After learning the material, students go back to their home groups and share the different aspects of the topic.

Book Talks-sharing with others small amounts of information to peak their interest in the book. Short summary

Summarizing-Student’s read a passage and then summarize what they have read.

Think-Pair-Share-Students work together to answer a question about an assigned reading

DRAW strategy-(Agnew,2000),D-Draw a question from the hat or whatever container. R-Read to find answer . A-Attend to others as they discuss their answers to their questions. W-Write answers to asked questions from notes on the discussion.

What Hasn’t Worked in the Past?Round Robin reading has its place but is not

a great comprehension strategy.Teaching reading in isolated skills.Asking questions that just require

regurgitation and not looking for the deeper meaning.

Retention

Referenceswww.readingrockets.comDRAW Strategy (Agnew,2002) Retrieved 2010

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Unless otherwise noted these strategies were taken from Reading Rockets online. See website above.

Websiteswww.ncld.orgwww.readingrockets.comwww.LDonline.com