Diversity

I have observed that there is a wide range of reading abilities in the service learning classroom where I volunteer each week. Some of the students in the class are able to read very quickly and have a high level of reading comprehension. Other students are able to read fluently but have a more difficult time understanding what they read. There are a few students who have probable reading disorders and have a very difficult time keeping pace with their peers in completing assignments because of their low reading levels.

The teacher that I work with does an excellent job helping students of all reading levels make progress. She makes sure that students with reading disorders are referred to specialists that can determine what strategies need to be implemented to help them with their disability. She works with slower readers in small groups each day reading books on their level. She frequently dissects words phonetically to help low level readers sound out words and practices sight words with flash cards. The teacher uses her aides to work with students with reading delays on assignments that require more reading time. Students with reading disabilities are sometimes given accommodations to help them finish assignments at home or modified requirements to help them keep up with their peers. 

I am happy to report that I have seen a lot of progress in the reading ability of all the students that I have observed in the past two months. I am frequently asked to have the students do a timed reading with me at the beginning and end of the week. They are required to do the specific reading alone, with another student, or in a small group several times during the week. With practice, the students are almost always able to read more fluently as the week goes on.