Oral Reading Should NEVER be Required!
Forcing a student into oral reading, especially in front of peers, attaches a huge load of negative emotion to reading. As a tutor, I spend as much time overcoming “reading PTSD” as I do teaching the skills.
How Izzy Overcame her Reading Block
Izzy is dyslexic and she stutters. As long as no one forces her to read aloud, she’s bright, confident, and curious. She excels at dance. She came to me because her school experience was stressing her out — she was repeatedly asked to read aloud, which left her emotionally drained and made her look inept to teachers and other students. I worked with her for about 18 months. First, I taught her to read using tracking and scanning. Then I added silent reading. After she became adept at silent reading comprehension, I asked if she’d like to tackle oral reading, which is very different. She was able to use her silent reading skill to transform herself into an excellent oral reader! She now enjoys being called on to read.
Izzy’s Goal
Izzy wanted to read aloud in front of others without feeling embarrassed. Her double challenge of stuttering plus dyslexia made this difficult but not impossible. Not all students want to read aloud, nor should they have to! After all, most adult reading is done silently.
Silent Reading BEFORE Oral Reading
Using silent reading to master oral reading.
There’s a huge secret out there in the reading world — professionals who read on stage and on camera are not JUST reading aloud! They are reading silently and then SAYING what they read aloud. That’s how they make it sound so smooth and natural. Most people who have trouble with oral reading are trying to say each word as they come to it, and this makes for choppy sounding reading.
How to Practice Oral Reading
Silent reading doesn’t automatically become smooth oral reading! It takes practice. Take a short passage from a book, script, or news article. Start with one sentence and work up as you are ready. Read it silently several times to be sure you have the meaning. Then scan it quickly for keywords as you SAY it aloud. Breath deeply at the end of each sentence. This oxygenates your brain and allows your audience to really hear what you said. While breathing, scan the next sentence. Then, look at your audience and deliver!
Oral Reading Self-Assessment
Did you use silent reading first to make oral reading more natural? How did it work? Have you tried it in front of an audience yet? Start with your dog or your goldfish, then a friend.
These ideas come from Dyslexia Tool Kit Expanded Edition: What to do when phonics isn’t enough, by Yvonna Graham, M.Ed., and Dr. Alta E. Graham. www.dyslexiakit.net