When you teach students reading in a fun way, they are able to enjoy reading which makes comprehension more achievable.  As young as the age of the children is, introducing them to fun and pleasing ways to learn reading can have a long-term effect on how they will learn to comprehend reading materials in the future.

Here are some pleasurable methods of teaching reading to your students:

1. Bubble Charts – You can use Bubble Charts to show how items are related to each other. The main word is written in the center of the page and related words are written separately in the bubbles around the main idea. Students can be taught to relate the main idea to the sub ideas or vice versa.

2. T-charts – These can help students list and scrutinize two sides to a topic. For example, advantages and disadvantages, facts and opinions, descriptions, or characteristics.

3. Venn Diagrams – These are utilized to make comparisons and contrasts two or more ideas.  Two overlapping circles are drawn.  The space that overlaps can be the area where students will write the characteristics that are true to both ideas. The space that belongs solely to the first idea is for the characteristics specific to that word. Do the same with the space for the other circle.

4. Think Aloud – This is a fun activity wherein the students can actively participate in reading. The concept is that students are encouraged to “think aloud” about the knowledge they have about the specific lesson. They can use background knowledge, make predictions, create images, and recognize the objectives or aims for the reading.  The teacher can also monitor the speed, strengths, and weaknesses of each student as each one participates in the activity.

For example, the teacher can use a short story and get the class ready for thinking out loud about the story. Such ideas might include what each student knows about the story, experiences they can relate to the story, what do they think of the ending, and many more.

Provide your students with fun activities and soon, you will be able to help them improve their reading and comprehension skills.

By: Ma. Janette G. Manlapaz | Special Education Teacher I | Liyang Elementary School | Pilar, Bataan