Standard 2

Standard 2 Curriculum and Instruction

• Provide appropriate in-depth instruction for all readers and writers, especially those who struggle with reading and writing.

     Prior to this course and tutoring Liv, I did not have much knowledge about teaching a struggling reader.  I have never struggled with reading, nor has my daughter, so this was something that was foreign to me.  During this course and through my tutoring sessions with Liv, I have come to learn so much about helping a struggling reader and have also learned a great deal about dyslexia.  Working one-on-one with Liv has allowed me to see how a student with dyslexia struggles with reading.  In order to help Liv, we have tried numerous strategies and tools.  One such tool that has helped Liv is the apparatus that is made using a piece of paper that helps her to isolate words as she reads.  I have also used a voice recorder to record my own voice reading a book, which she then listens to for a week while following along in the book.  After the week, she brings the book and reads it aloud to me.  I have noticed that this strategy has helped her fluency quite a bit, as she can read these books much quicker than she normally does.  We have also worked on phonics instruction by going over the basic rules, I have read to her, we have done partner reading, and I have worked with her on various comprehension strategies.  We have worked on making personal connections, figuring out the most important part of a book, character studies, discussing emotions, and choosing the best words in a book.  I feel like all of these strategies and tools have helped Liv’s reading skills.  She now reads more fluently than in the beginning, and is able to think beyond the text.