WHEN READING IS HARD FOR YOU

What if reading is difficult for you? What if you read very slowly? What if you can’t remember what you just read? 
Ask for help from your parents or your guidance counselor, who may have some reading comprehension workshops or programs to help you. 
And practice – the more you read, the easier it will become. If you’re having trouble retaining information when you read, but learn better by hearing, try reading along with the book on tape, if available. An increasing amount of literature is now available on cassette tapes and CD’s.

Okay, what happens when reading is really tough for you – like almost the impossible dream? What can you do to help yourself? First and foremost, ask for help from your English or reading teacher or your guidance counselor. They will help you come up with a concrete plan to bolster your reading skill. Then make sure you use all of the hints and tricks your teachers give you.

What can you do on your own? Find a buddy or two. Pick a book or story – even a comic book -- you will all enjoy. Why? Because this provides patterning for you to learn to read well. Take turns reading aloud with everyone following along. Also try reading back the same passage to see how you do. Retell the story to the other person and see if you understood the major parts of the story. Draw pictures of the story. Talk about the story line (beginning, middle and end), the characters and the setting. Talk about the conflict – the problem the story needs to solve. Talk about what you felt about the story and what you learned from the story. Everyone should make up questions about the story and then answer them. Ask why the author wrote the story.

Another hint is to read a part of a story and then try and guess where the story is going. Make a note, then read some more and see how close you came!

Get books on audiotapes along with a copy of the book. Just don’t listen to the tapes, read along with the tapes. Another trick is to read into a tape recorder and then play it back and listen while you are reading along. Do you hear and see where you slipped up on words and sentences? Listen to your pronunciation.

As you are working on reading aloud, you also need to work on your silent reading. A lot of schools call this SSR – Sustained Silent Reading -- that means you read silently for at least 10 minutes at a stretch.

Remember that when learning to do anything, reading included, you’re going to make mistakes. It’s okay. What won’t be okay is not to try at all. Keep on reading – aloud and silently – because practice makes perfect. Think what it takes to become really good at a sport. It takes a lot of hours and a lot of effort. Learning to read well is the same thing. It is hard work! Once you’ve conquered reading, though, it will make you more confident in yourself and your skills and enjoyment. Start small and slowly and with something you really like! Then build on from there. You are never too old to learn to read and to read well.

Some school districts are utilizing a program called Reading Across Disciplines (RAD). This program stresses effective reading skills no matter what the class during the school day. The RAD program not only affects reading skills, but also listening, time management and test taking skills.

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So what if your school doesn’t approach teaching reading across your entire day? Then use the hints and tricks of this chapter and use them for each and every class you are in. Reading is the key to learning – all you have to do is pick it up, insert it in the lock and turn and be willing to work and practice.

If you have a learning disability that affects your reading, reading is obviously a tough ride for you. You need to acknowledge to yourself that you’re wired a bit differently from other kids as far as how your brain reads. Then work with your teachers and resource teacher to find the best tips and tricks that will help you with your individual needs.

Can’t sit still to read due to AD/HD? Walk around and read. Can’t stay focused long enough to read? Get a timer – you know one of those old-style egg timer things. Set it for a minute and read. Then set it for two minutes and read. Keep working at it to extend the time you can stay focused.