Tag: Hi-Lo

Engaging reluctant readers since 2012!

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…
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Hi-Lo Books for English Second Language Learners

I focus on writing Hi-Lo Books for English Second Language Learners. Why is that? Although I was born in the USA, I grew up in Switzerland and learned to read and write in German first. It wasn’t until 3rd grade that I was introduced to reading and writing in English. By then, I was very…
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We Should Not “Dumb-down” Hi-Lo Books!

Reluctant readers are not stupid. In fact, they recognize “dumbed down” books. This is a highly offensive phrase used when discussing the structure of Hi-Lo books. It also shows a lack of understanding of the purpose and process of writing effective Hi-Lo books. Is it a surprise when reluctant readers don’t want to read those…
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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…
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Hi- Lo Books offer a Bridge to help Struggling Readers

Hi-Lo Books offer a needed bridge in the reading process. In fact, Hi-Lo books help struggling readers! Hi-Lo books are not novels that should be dismissed as inferior literature. In fact, I believe that these very books offer the bridge needed for many readers to have a chance at accessing the literature available to them…
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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…
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