Reading is a skill that many believe people are born with. It is also one of the most important skills in life. But for some, reading can be an excruciating chore or even an impossible task. The good news is there are four simple ways to improve reading: focus on phonics, reading to help you become a better writer, giving more attention to vocabulary instruction, and increasing discussion opportunities.
1) Focus on Phonics: One of the best ways to improve reading is by focusing on phonics. Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds. When students learn phonics, they are able to connect the sounds with the letters, which helps them read words. Phonics (together with key sight words) that is taught systematically and over a long period of time could help students learn the phonetic code more quickly in Kindergarten and Year One. That way, they would have more time to read and listen to stories.
2) Reading to Help You Become a Better Writer: Many people do not realize that reading can actually help improve writing skills. When students read, they are exposed to different types of sentence structures, vocabulary words, and grammar rules. By reading often, students can internalize these elements and use them in their own writing. In addition, reading also helps build concentration and focus, two essential skills for any writer. When students learned how to decode in K-1, they spend a lot more time reading literature, history, and science texts in Year 2 & Year 3. This will help them build their knowledge base and vocabulary. This is important for raising comprehension levels.
3) Giving More Attention to Vocabulary Instruction: Another way to improve reading is by giving more attention to vocabulary instruction. One reason why some students struggle with reading is because they do not have a strong vocabulary. Most of the words in a rich vocabulary are learned by reading. However, research shows that if we focus on learning specific words, we can improve our vocabulary. By teaching students new words and providing them with practice opportunities, they will be better equipped to understand what they read. In addition, when students have a strong vocabulary, they are able to express themselves better in writing.
4) Increasing Discussion Opportunities: One final way to improve reading is by increasing discussion opportunities. When students discuss what they have read with their peers, they are able to clarify any confusion and deepen their understanding of the text. In addition, discussions help build critical thinking and communication skills. If students are not given the opportunity to discuss what they have read, they are missing out on an important learning experience. Additionally, if you want to become a confident, articulate speaker, you need to have frequent, purposeful discussions about what you read. You can talk more often and for a longer time to help develop your skills. This also helps increase your interest in reading, which is the first step to becoming a good writer.
Though there are many ways to improve reading, the four outlined here are some of the most important. Focusing on phonics, reading to help you become a better writer, paying more attention to vocabulary instruction, and increasing discussion opportunities can make a world of difference for students who struggle with reading. By implementing these four strategies, teachers can help improve reading for all students. With targeted instruction, every student can become a successful reader.
4 ways to improve reading (and why it’s important)
Reading is a skill that many believe people are born with. It is also one of the most important skills in life. But for some, reading can be an excruciating chore or even impossible task. The good news is there are four ways to improve reading: focus on phonics, reading to help you become a better writer, paying more attention to vocabulary instruction and increasing discussion opportunities.
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