Reading Programs for Struggling Readers

Struggling Readers Can Suffer In all Academic Subjects but Reading Programs Can Help

Reading isn't just about opening a book and being able to read the story. It is a complex process that requires students to interpret new concepts, make connections between previously read texts, evaluate their own understanding, make inferences and predictions, and draw conclusions based on previous knowledge. When a child is struggling with reading skills it affects much more than the ability to read and comprehend a book. Reading permeates every facet of life, impacts all subject areas, and can have a major effect on a student's academic confidence.

Multiple academic disciplines are affected when a student is struggling in reading. Areas of concern may include:

• Math Students are expected to read and interpret mathematical word problems, follow complex directions, and apply critical thinking skills to mathematical scenarios. Before beginning any mathematical calculation a struggling reader will likely face difficulty comprehending the problem and determining where to begin. 
• Science Science courses, such as chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science, require students to read and understand textbooks, follow laboratory directions, and interpret scientific reports. Struggling readers face additional difficulties with complex vocabulary and academic terms that impact overall understanding. 
• History and social studies Solid reading skills are essential for success in social studies and history courses. Students must be able to read and understand textbooks, academic articles, biographies, and primary documents. Many of these texts include specialized vocabulary, require students to identify historical connections, and are best understood within the context of previous reading and learning. 
• Foreign languages Learning a foreign language requires a student to understand and be able to apply phonological (blending sounds together and segmenting sounds from words) and orthographic (the sound-symbol connection) processes. Struggling readers may face difficulties with these basic processes which impact both their reading ability and the comprehension required to learn a foreign language. 
• Career preparation Your child's success in school will have a direct impact on career preparation and the ability to succeed in future work. A struggling reader is less likely to successfully access professional or technical texts, understand and process complex directions, and apply new learning. Poor reading skills can hamper a student and will limit future educational and vocational options. 

The reading programs for struggling readers at Huntington Learning Centers are designed with the individual child in mind. Our professional tutors begin with an academic evaluation that covers all areas of reading to determine a student's weak skills and areas for potential growth. The results of this evaluation are then used to develop a personalized reading program that builds on a student's strengths to address areas of need. Since no two students are alike, no two reading programs are alike either. You can trust that your child's individual needs are being met and our tutors are committed to your child's unique set of strengths and challenges. 

Huntington Learning Center tutors are trained to address a variety of reading skills with their students based on readiness and developmental ability. Elementary reading skills range from basic letter and sound recognition to reading comprehension concepts such as drawing conclusions, following directions, and identifying main idea and details. Middle school reading skills include increasing a student's reading rate, making inferences, and integrating critical thinking skills. Struggling high school students often receive instruction in applying reading skills to other subject areas, making connections between genres and individual texts, and discovering the plot, theme, and conflict of a narrative piece of work. Regardless of a child's age or ability, Huntington Learning Centers can help.