Transforming Reading Skills in the Secondary School: Simple Strategies For Improving Literacy

Transforming Reading Skills in the Secondary School is a commonsense text designed to help practitioners working in a mainstream context. The book suggests ways to develop the underlying skills necessary for good reading through multiple pathways such as mainstream subject lessons, individual and small group support sessions, whole school initiatives, the use of reading mentors and home-school liaison opportunities. Brimming with ideas and activities, Pat Guy explores a variety of different aspects of reading, including:

• how reading is taught and why it is such an important skill for the individual
• how to motivate the reluctant reader
• the role played by the mainstream & specialist teacher
• underlying problems pupils may face
• how to increase parental involvement
• reasons why a pupil’s comprehension might be limited
• the role of the School Librarian
• the relevance to reading of vocabulary and general knowledge.

Anyone wanting to develop the reading skills of secondary pupils who struggle will find this a resource they return to time and time again.

Table of Contents

1. Practical ways to identify barriers to reading development, with strategies to help students overcome weaknesses in language, concentration and memory.
2. Helping to support the individual in withdrawal lessons: improving comprehension, using assessment tools and training reading mentors.
3. Developing reading skills through mainstream lessons: identifying suitable resources, teaching reading techniques and improving reading speed.
4. Organising whole school reading events, working with parents, carers, librarians and the local community.
5. Stand alone reading lessons for specialist teachers or mainstream staff to use in PHSE, Form Periods or Study Skills sessions.
6. Practical exercises, advice sheets and hand-outs to support staff, parents, carers and students.