Assisted Reading Practice

School-Based Intervention Idea from www.interventioncentral.org

In this very simple but effective intervention, the student reads aloud while an accomplished reader follows along silently. If the student commits a reading error, the helping reader corrects the student error. 

Materials:

• Reading book

Preparation:

• The teacher, parent, adult tutor, or peer tutor working with the student should be trained in advance to use assisted reading approach.

Steps in Implementing This Intervention:

Step 1: Sit with the student in a quiet location without too many distractions. Position the book selected for the reading session so that both you and the student can easily follow the text. (Or get two copies of the book so that you each have your own copy.)

Step 2: Instruct the student to begin reading out loud. Encourage him or her to "do your best reading."

Step 3: Follow along silently in the text as the student reads. 

Step 4: If the student mispronounces a word or hesitates for longer than 5 seconds, tell the student the word. Have the student repeat the word correctly. Direct the student to continue reading aloud through the passage. 

Step 5: Occasionally, praise the student in specific terms for good reading (e.g., "You are doing a really great job of sounding out the words that you don't know. Good work!").

References

Shany, M.T. & Biemiller, A. (1995). Assisted reading practice: Effects on performance for poor readers in grades 3 and 4 . Reading Research Quarterly, 30, 382-395.