Tag: Engaging Readers

Engaging reluctant readers since 2012!

Rereading helps struggling readers

In order to positively impact reluctant readers, we must teach that rereading is a positive reading strategy, and something all strong readers do automatically! I strongly believe that rereading is a positive reading comprehension strategy. In fact, rereading helps struggling readers build their reading fluency. As I was working on my masters in Literacy and…
Read more

Struggling Readers Predict and Infer

I focus on activating curiosity as I develop the plot so that predicting and inferring are natural outcomes. It can be a challenge to help struggling readers predict and infer based on what they have read. As a teacher I realized that my reluctant readers avoided predicting or inferring if they did not care about…
Read more

Hi-Lo Books that Build on Previous Knowledge

Teachers of reluctant readers face many challenges. One of those challenges may seem minor to some, but it is still very important. Namely, they want to provide struggling readers with material around which they can build meaningful discussions. Teachers seek out Hi-Lo books that build on previous knowledge. For reluctant readers, this means the stories…
Read more

Help ESL Learners Express Their Own Unique Perspectives

I write my books from this international perspective.  We all bring something different to the table and we are all worthy of being heard. I believe my books will help ESL learners express their own unique perspectives. But what makes me qualified to know anything about ESL leaners? What do I know about differing perspectives?…
Read more

Hi-Lo Readers Want a Good Story

Hi-Lo readers are the toughest audience because they will often give up on a book after the first page. If it doesn’t grab them, they are done!  Hi-Lo readers want a good story, but don’t want or need all the extra fluff. They want a story that gets to the point, but still doesn’t fall…
Read more

Hi-Lo Books Can Open Doors for Readers

In my last blog, I shared that I was introduced to adolescent literature in college as part of a class. Up until that point in my life I struggled with reading because I learned to read and write in German first. But once I was in college, something began to change. The transformation began in…
Read more

How to Strengthen Reading Fluency

Reading fluency plays a key role in reading comprehension. So how do we strengthen reading fluency? As a teacher of struggling readers, I learned that this did not mean that only those who could read fast were good readers. Speed was not the most important factor. In fact, I discovered a key habit that was…
Read more

What are “Hi-Lo” Books?

I want to tell you a little bit about what reading Hi-Lo books means. Hi-Lo books, also known as High-Low books, can play a key role in developing reading fluency. Fluency means that you can read better and faster AND understand what you have read.  A Hi-Lo book is a book or a reading section…
Read more