Special Reading Needs

A Resource Plan to Boost Reading in Kids with Disabilities

Aug 3, 2007 Lynn Moore

Special needs children can benefit from certain strategies and resources.

As school approaches, parents and teachers alike think about new ways to encourage children to read. Whether the child has an IEP, receives reading intervention services, or just needs encouragement as a beginning reader, the following steps are a starting point.

Provide Books at the Child’s Reading Level Become familiar with your child’s reading level. If you are not sure, check with your child’s teacher. Reading material (fiction and nonfiction) is available for every level of reading skill. Picture books, easy readers, simple chapter books, graphic novels (comic book format), etc. can be found to satisfy every reading interest. Although book stores are popular right now, parents can also get great reading material from the library or at neighborhood garage sales.
Choose a Good Dictionary Children are interested in dictionaries that are at their reading level. Again, there are picture dictionaries, dictionaries for beginning readers, etc. Often a good place to review different levels of dictionaries is to visit a teacher supply store. To find the most appropriate dictionary for your child, tell the clerk your child’s reading level and his age.
Thesaurus Fun After reaching a certain level with reading and writing, children like to use a thesaurus to beef up their sentences. A thesaurus should (as with all materials) be at the child’s level. Parents will need to give a little guidance on which synonyms found really make sense in the child’s writing, but it is a great way to expand understanding of words.
Read Together Don’t miss the fun of reading together. If you are looking for pointers on how to do this, check out Mem Fox’s Reading Magic.
Play Word Games Word games can include anything from having a contest to think of words that begin with T to playing a board game. Sidewalk chalk and an imaginative parent and child can lead to all kinds of reading fun. Read ----- for reading fun in the sun.
Write Notes Write notes to say I love you! Write notes to give information. (We will eat pizza tonight.) Write notes to give instruction. (Please make your bed and feed the dog.) This kind of writing entices the child to read – especially when there is the occasional pizza note. Read --- for more ideas.
Show by Example Make sure your child sees you reading. Reading material can vary greatly: a book, the newspaper, the internet, a cookbook, a magazine, directions for a game.

The copyright of the article Special Reading Needs in Special Needs Parenting is owned by Lynn Moore. Permission to republish Special Reading Needs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

words