Reading Interventions: A Review

There are many programs available to help struggling readers.  Using these interventions can add some variety to your instruction, and make lesson planning easier.  I recommend using them in addition to a Common Core-Based English/Language Arts program, as well as phonics and sight word instruction, such as Recipe for Reading. 

So here are two common reading interventions, and their pros and cons:

Read Naturally

In this intervention, students are timed one minute, when they do a “cold read” of a selection.  They then practice the selection three times, with a CD recording, and do a “hot read,” during which they try to meet a goal that was set, based on their cold read score.

Pros: 

• Students are able to work at their own pace.
• Students are able to work independently, while they listen to the CD.
• Having to meet the goal provides students with positive motivation.
• This program targets fluency, which is not targeted by many programs.

Cons:

• This can not be done effectively in a large group, because students frequently need to read aloud to an adult.
• It is easy for students to refuse to participate, without being noticed.
• Specific decoding strategies are not explicitly taught.
• The stories have comprehension questions, but the emphasis is not on comprehension.

Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS)

This program teaches phonics and reading fluency by having students work in pairs: one student is the reader first, and the other student is the coach.  Then the students switch roles.

Pros:

• The program is fast-paced and maintains student engagement.
• The program teaches phonemic awareness and phoneme blending.
• Students are able to spend a great deal of time practicing.

Cons:

• The program can become monotonous, because the routine is always the same.
• If a student makes a mistake, they are required to begin the line over again.  This can lead to behavioral issues.
• The teacher will have to monitor pairs closely, to make sure students stay on task.

Whatever interventions you use, be sure to tweak them, so that they fit perfectly into your program!