Effective Reading Intervention Starts with the Brain
For many students, reading is a challenge. Whether it’s struggling to decode words, comprehending text, or keeping up with classroom assignments, reading difficulties can have a significant impact on academic success. As a result, parents and educators often turn to a reading intervention to help students catch up. However, despite their best efforts, many reading interventions fail to produce lasting results. So, what’s going wrong?
Why Many Reading Interventions Fail
There are several reasons why reading interventions may not be effective. One is that they are not targeted to the specific needs of the student. For example, a student who is struggling to decode words may need a different intervention than a student who has difficulty comprehending text. Another reason is that interventions may not be implemented consistently or may not be intensive enough to make a real difference.
Another factor is the approach reading interventions use. Two approaches to reading instruction that have received a lot of attention in recent years are balanced literacy and structured literacy.
Balanced Literacy vs. Structured Literacy
Balanced literacy is a broad approach to reading instruction that emphasizes a variety of strategies and techniques, including whole language, visual clues, and comprehension. The goal is to provide students with a well-rounded education and to promote a love of reading.
Structured literacy, on the other hand, is a more focused approach that emphasizes the systematic teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, and word study. The goal is to give students a strong foundation in the skills needed for reading. Then later, this approach naturally flows into improved reading fluency, accuracy, and comprehension.
Especially for students with reading challenges, a more structured approach may be necessary to address their specific needs.
Brain Skills Are the Foundation of Successful Reading
Ultimately, the key to effective reading intervention is to focus on the underlying brain skills that are necessary for reading success. These skills include phonemic awareness, phonics, auditory processing, and fluency, as well as attention, memory, and processing speed. When these skills are weak or underdeveloped, it can make reading a struggle.
Brain-Based Reading Intervention at LearningRx
At LearningRx, we believe that brain-based reading intervention is the key to lasting success. We tailor our one-on-one brain training programs to the specific needs of each student. They strengthen the underlying brain skills that are necessary for reading success. Then, we build on this foundation and follow a logical progression to build reading confidence. By focusing on these skills, we can help students overcome their reading challenges and achieve lasting improvement.
Students have improved reading skills by an average of 3.5 years in only 6 months of our high intensity structured reading intervention program! This is a huge boost in ability and confidence that carries over into all areas of learning.
If you have a student who is struggling with reading, you are not alone. We encourage you to learn more about our brain-based reading intervention programs. With the right approach and the right support, your student can become a confident and successful reader.
Click here to learn more about our unique approach to reading help that begins with brain skills!
