Strategies to Improve Word Reading Skill in Struggling Readers

Effective reading comprehension requires mastery of word recognition. There are several strategies that can help struggling readers improve their word reading skills.
Think of reading progression like a building: effective techniques make for a strong structure, while ineffective techniques lead to instability.

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1. Automaticity with Word Recognition
   • Effective: Increased attention to structure analysis and reading fluency
   • Ineffective: Reading aloud in small groups
     
     
2. Level 1 (Effective vs. Ineffective) 
   • Level 1 Effective
     • Spelling lists and tests based on word patterns and high frequency words
   • Level 1 Ineffective 
     • Spelling lists and tests based on random words
       
       
3. Level 2
   • Level 2 Effective 
     • Decodable texts - words that share a similar spelling pattern (e.g. The frog sat on a log in the fog)
   • Level 2 Ineffective 
     • Texts that provide little repetition of words
       
       
4. Level 3
   • Level 3 Effective 
     • Encouraging students to sound out words
   • Level 3 Ineffective 
     • Encouraging students to guess at or skip words
       
       
5. Level 4
   • Level 4 Effective 
     • Words listed on a wall categorized by similar sounds and spelling patterns
   • Level 4 Ineffective 
     • Words listed on a wall alphabetically
       
       
6. Level 5 
   • Level 5 Effective 
     • Practice in blending and segmenting words for reading and spelling (systematic phonics instruction)
   • Level 5 Ineffective 
     • Memorizing a list of sight words
       
       
7. Level 6
   • Effective 
     • Phonological awareness instruction with letters
   • Ineffective 
     • Memorizing a list of sight words
       
       
8. Foundation
   1. A strong foundation allows readers to build new skills more easily 
   2. Word Recognition - Increasingly automatic 
      • Phonological Awareness
      • Decoding and Spelling
      • Sight Recognition
   3. Language Comprehension - Increasingly strategic
      • Background Knowledge
      • Vocabulary Knowledge
      • Language Structures
      • Verbal Reasoning
      • Literacy Knowledge

Sources: 

https://www.readingrockets.org/article/decodable-text-sources 

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/what-are-decodable-texts-and-should-teachers-use-them/2018/09 

https://www.verywellfamily.com/whats-a-leveled-reading-program-620912