There's a lot of research out there about which types of reading interventions are best for students with learning disabilities, and it can be confusing to know which ones may be right for your child. In order to alleviate some of the confusion, H. Lee Swanson, Ph.D. analyzed 92 of these studies to identify the teaching methods that seemed most effective for increasing word recognition and reading comprehension skills.
Dr. Swanson finds that the most effective approach for improving word recognition skills is direct instruction through sequencing, segmentation, and advanced organizers. Through sequencing, the teacher breaks down the task by having the student separate sounds or parts of unknown words they can sound out. The teacher then gradually reduces prompts or cues until the student can figure out words for themselves. In segmentation, the teacher helps the student to sound out each phoneme in a word, and then blends the sounds together. Through advanced organizers, the teacher directs children to focus on particular information in a text, and provides students with information and objectives upfront.
In order to improve reading comprehension skills, Dr. Swanson finds that the most effective teaching strategies are those that involve direct response and questioning, control difficulty of processing demands of a task, elaborate on the task, demonstrate processes or steps for the students to follow, create small-group settings, and utilize strategy cues.
See our other tips and strategies on our Reading Comprehension page.
To see a breakdown of the study, visit LD Online, or read the actual study on Sage Journals.