Teaching reading

TEACHING READING

Reading is an activity with a purpose. A person may read in order to gain information or verify existing

knowledge, or in order to critique a writer's ideas or writing style. A person may also read for enjoyment, or to enhance knowledge of the language being read.

REASONS FOR READING

For study purposes

For pleasure

For their careers

For language

acquisition

Spelling Writing Vocabulary knowledge Grammar

Punctuation Use reading material

DIFFERENT KINDS OF READING

Extensive reading

• Reading for pleasure

Intensive reading

• Text genres

READING LEVELS

Written material Menus Timetables Signs Basic instructions

Read for pleasure

LOW LEVEL HIGH LEVEL

READING SKILLS

Scan

Skim

Reading for detailed comprehension

READING PRINCIPLES

Encourage students to read as often and as

much as possible

Students need to be engaged with what they

are reading

Encourage students to respond to the content

of a text, not just concentrate on its

construction

Prediction is a major factor in

reading

Match the task to the topic when using intensive reading texts.

Good teachers exploit reading texts to the full

ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO READ EXTENSIVELY

Library

• Students need to have access to a collection of readers, both at their own level and above and below it.

Choice

• Students are much more likely to read with enthusiasm if they have made the decision about what they read.

Feedback

• Students should have an opportunity to give feedback on what they have read, either verbally or in written form.

Time

• We need to give students time for reading in addition to those occasions when they read on their own