Looking for Ideas for Teaching Reading Strategies?
Let’s face it … all content area teachers are reading teachers. We all need to be teaching reading strategies to our students. Even if a student is a strong reader, science texts are a whole different beast. But the good news is we can help our students with science literacy by teaching them specific reading strategies.
Of course, science literacy also includes writing. With the Common Core Learning Standards there was a huge push to integrate more reading and writing activities, including a school-wide vocabulary initiative. Many of the strategies that you’ll find here include both of these skills.
In the past 10 or so years, I’ve noticed an alarming decrease in many of my students’ reading abilities. In fact, last year I had several students in my last class period that had second grade reading levels! I honestly couldn’t believe it when I read their IEPs. All I could think was … how in the world am I ever going to be able to get them through this rigorous course? The New York State Living Environment Regents exam at the end of the year is written at a 9th grade reading level!
So I definitely had my work cut out for me. And I know I’m not alone in this. Many of the comments on social media that I follow show teachers facing the same dilemma all over.
There are really a ton of amazing, engaging … dare I say FUN? … reading strategies, activities and games that we can use with our students. This page will be the central hub from where you can find all sorts of reading/literacy strategies to help your students.
And really, since reading and literacy are so important to ALL content areas, by teaching reading strategies we are helping them in all areas of their academic lives.
Have you tried some reading/writing strategies that have worked exceptionally well? Please share with us in the comments!
Happy Teaching!
