How to Help Teens Who Struggle to Read

Basics are taught in every school to everyone. However, not all teens who study there come out with the same level of fluency in reading. Some of them become really good at it and can read almost anything they are given. On the other hand, there are some who can’t even separate prefixes and suffixes. As a result, they are unable to read fluently. Parents don’t bother teaching kids how to read after they are done with the basics because they think the job has already been done. However, that is not the case, and as a parent you must take responsibility. This will not only help in their future studies, but will also save them from the embarrassment of messing up. Helping teens who struggle to read is not an easy thing though, but it certainly isn’t impossible. Let’s discuss in detail how you can help teens read.

Start with Decoding

Most teens who struggle to read do so because they are unable to decode the words properly. They don’t understand the meanings behind the prefix or suffix, which makes it hard for them to put a word together. If you are a good reader, then there is no one better to guide your kids than you. You just have to make sure that they understand the meanings behind the words, and once they do, they will be more than likely to decode it with ease. However, don’t expect it to happen overnight. It will take a bit of patience and a lot of practice.

Work on Improving Fluency

Some kids are good at decoding words, but they are not as fluent. They take a lot of time on each word, which makes it hard for them to understand the whole sentence. You can play a huge part here as well, but for that to happen you need to be strongly fluent in that language. Demonstrate how to read fluently on regular basis and ask your teen to do the same. Regular exercises like these will certainly help them grow more fluent in the language in no time.

Build their Vocabulary

Another thing that can really help your teens become better at reading is improved vocabulary. The more words they know and are comfortable with, the easier it will be for them to pronounce them without a hitch. When it comes to building vocabulary, there is no need to look any further than a dictionary. However, if the old school approach does not appeal to your youngsters, then go for something more fun, like crossword puzzles for instance. Telling your teens that people with a vast vocabulary are considered really cool might just help a bit in raising their level of interest in learning new words as well. At the end of the day, what they learn will significantly improve their comfort with reading and thus make them enjoy it more.

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