The Importance of Active Reading, Part 1

If your child struggles with reading assignments, it may be because she views reading as a passive activity. She either sits in class and listens to the teacher read aloud, or she stares down at her textbook, hoping that the words on the page will somehow convey their meaning to her. Literacy is one of the most powerful and important tools we have, but for too many students, reading is frustrating. Skilled readers see books as adventures, but struggling readers see them as challenges (or, even worse, chores). How can you help your child become a better reader.

The first and most important step is to introduce the concept of active reading. As readers, it is our job to engage with and respond to the text. It's difficult for readers (of any skill level) to truly comprehend the text if they simply read through it without pausing or reflecting. As you help your child to become a better and more active reader, consider the following techniques.

Make Predictions: Before your child begins to read, ask him, "What do you think this will be about?" Textbooks are brimming with clues! Show him that he can "preview" the text and get a good idea of its main idea—before he even begins to read. This is possible thanks to text features: the photographs, drawings, captions, headings, and subheadings within an article or story. If, for example, your child's science teacher has assigned a chapter about the life cycle of honeybees, your child should be able to glean valuable information from the book's text features. The ability to preview and predict is a surefire way to boost a struggling reader's confidence.

Question the Text: Many of us have been taught to read through a story or chapter from beginning to end, without pausing. Somehow, this approach is equated with being a "good reader." But this simply isn't true. For struggling readers, in particular, reading a chapter from start to finish is daunting—and, in their effort to just make it through the assignment, they often miss key points. This is where "questioning the text" comes in. Encourage your child to make notes in the margin (or in a separate notebook, if the book is not her own personal copy). The notes could be about characters (e.g., "This character seems like the type of person who ______," "I think this character said this because _______"), about plot (e.g., "I am predicting that _______ will happen next"), about vocabulary words (e.g., "What does _____ mean?"), and so much more. This participatory process encourages active reading. Without even knowing it, your child will become invested in the text. That investment makes for a far more meaningful reading experience.

In future posts, we'll explore specific, research-based activities that help students make predictions and question the text. If you're looking for a tutor to help your child become a better reader, consider the experts at LeapTutor.com or StrongLearning.com.

Find a tutor who can introduce active reading to your struggling reader.