Readers at all levels of learning—from those reading below grade level to those more advanced and reading well above grade level—need personalized instruction that meets them at their individual skill level, supports them in targeted areas of need, and challenges them to reach their full academic potential.
Students reading below, at, or above their grade level all need content and tasks that build critical-thinking skills. They also need instruction that matches their individual learning abilities, prepares them for success in college and/or career, and builds and sustains their interest and motivation.
Accurate Assessment Data
The first step in determining the best support for any level of reader is an accurate assessment. Administer an online reading assessment to quickly and effectively ensure your readers are receiving instruction at the appropriate level.
Independent, Personalized Practice & Adaptive Instruction
Online instructional programs can be beneficial for all students, from struggling readers who need targeted support in basic literacy skills to gifted students who continually request more challenging content from their teachers. A program that dynamically adapts to a student’s performance will help all readers strengthen their reading skills and raise their reading achievement. For example, Reading Plus automatically increases comprehension-based reading rates and readability levels as students accomplish their goals, continually raising the bar on achievements.
Engaging Content
Engaging texts inspire students to read more. All students—including struggling, proficient, and advanced readers—deserve interesting texts, from authentic documents to classic literature, to contemporary fiction and real-life stories. Additionally, students can expand the types of texts they read to enhance their knowledge in multiple content areas. Reading Plus offers over 2,500 engaging texts with Lexile® ranges appropriate for students reading on all levels through college.
Support for Readers with Low Fluency
Seventy percent of non-proficient readers and thirty percent of proficient readers are challenged with low fluency—they struggle to move their eyes smoothly and comfortably over lines of texts at an appropriate rate. Non-proficient readers—students who are not yet reading on grade level—are not likely to become proficient unless fluency is addressed alongside comprehension and vocabulary. Proficient readers with low fluency are students who probably have a lot of grit, a will to do well, and strong background knowledge; however, they are not set up to be lifelong readers who enjoy reading.
It is essential to build students’ fluency with silent reading. Research shows that by building fluency, students gain a deeper comprehension of text as well as increased enjoyment of reading. Once students learn how to read, they still need to develop effective reading habits that will prepare them for higher volumes of coursework in the future, more complex text, and lifelong learning.
College and Career Readiness & High-Stakes Test Prep
All students should be prepared for life after school, whether they enter the workforce or continue education in college. It is vital for students to be adequately prepared for not just these paths, but the high-stakes tests at the high school level, such as the ACT and SAT.
A reading program must include practice with question formats that match those used in high-stakes tests, such as drag-and-drop, select a sentence, and choosing multiple answers. Familiarity with these question types will aid students in building confidence before taking any assessments.
Project-based learning and tasks that prompt students to refer to their real-life experience help to build practical skills for the workplace or college. Social and emotional learning (SEL) tasks prepare them for building interpersonal relationships.
Teacher Visibility & Communication
When students are completing work independently, teachers need visibility into their progress and completed work. Robust reporting tools help teachers determine if students are completing all assignments, progressing slowly, or need to be challenged more.
Most importantly, teachers should encourage open communication so students feel free to share if something isn’t working. Are they being challenged enough? Too much? Collaboration and communication are essential components of any instruction, particularly for high-achieving students.
Literacy Solution for Struggling, Proficient & Advanced Readers
“We found that Reading Plus improved the reading fluency not only of struggling readers, but of our top readers who thought they couldn’t get any better. We’ve seen two, three, four grade levels of improvement for most of our students. The reading fluency of our top readers, which through the testing wasn’t as high as it could be, just zoomed in Reading Plus.”
– Principal, Santa Barbara, CA
Want to learn more?
Reading Plus is designed to complement core curriculum by building general academic vocabulary and improving capacity and motivation to engage with and comprehend texts of greater complexity. Visit readingplus.com or click the link below to learn more.
