Determine the Root Cause of a Reading Problem
One of the most perplexing issues faced by educators today is the struggle of students with reading. In today’s podcast, Jessica takes us through a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing these challenges. She underlines the importance of digging deep to identify the root cause of a reading problem before introducing any interventions.
Collecting data far beyond the usual academic screening can offer crucial insights. The analysis of this data helps to pinpoint when and potentially why a student started struggling with reading. This goes beyond just academic scores, but also includes factors like attendance and behavioral issues.
A striking point we made is the need for updated screeners. We specifically point out the need for screeners that check for foundational phonemic or phonological awareness. The importance of this lies in the fact that a student’s pre-test practice might camouflage the real issues they are facing. This can camouflage the real root cause of a reading problem.
Additionally, she highlights the importance of understanding the two-sided coin of attendance and behavior problems. On one hand, students might be missing school due to frustration from their struggles. On the other hand, their absence could be causing them to miss crucial reading lessons. Hence, identifying the underlying causes of these problems is paramount in addressing their reading struggles.
Want a step-by-step guide to find the root cause of reading problems?
We take the conversation further by guiding listeners through a step-by-step process to better support struggling readers. We emphasizes the importance of starting with the most basic skill. Even if it means going back to letter sounds for older students, building a strong foundation is critical for their reading success.
Finally, she ends the episode with a call to action for teachers to be proactive and consistent in their efforts to help struggling students. The ultimate goal is not just to help students improve their reading skills, but also to boost their confidence and motivation to learn.
This podcast episode serves as a valuable resource for educators seeking to better understand and address student reading struggles by finding and addressing the root cause of reading problems. It provides practical strategies and insights that can be readily implemented in the classroom. It is an invitation to rethink traditional approaches and adopt more comprehensive strategies to make a significant difference in our learners’ lives.