The future success of children lies in the ability to read fluently and understand what is read. Studies show that at least one out of five students has significant difficulty in reading acquisition (Therrien, 2004). Providing remedial reading programs is imperative to improve both reading fluency and reading comprehension, particularly to elementary school students because fluency and comprehension are particularly important at this stage of development and early intervention can impact the progression of reading difficulties.

What is Remedial Reading?

The remedial reading is a supplemental reading program that consists of rereading unfamiliar text until a satisfactory level of fluency is reached. Remedial reading is a strategy that implements assisted reading, reading while listening, and paired reading. According to Therrien, in order to achieve literacy there are five important skills one must learn: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary instruction, text comprehension strategies, and reading fluency. Reading literacy is not only a foundation for basic learning, but also a prerequisite for successful participation in most areas of youth or adult life (Linnakyla et al., 2004). Research indicates at least one out of five students has significant difficulty in reading acquisition (Therrien, 2004). Although reading fluency and comprehension are important skills to acquire, as they are essential skills for success both in school and later in life, many children do not acquire the necessary skills for achieving proficiency. Problems with reading tend to begin at the onset of reading instruction, persist, and become more severe with the passage of time (Graney, 2000).  Additional factors that help improve reading skills include: appropriate grouping practices, instructional strategy, extended practice opportunities with feedback, and breaking down tasks into smaller components (Calhoon, 2005).

 Literature has shown that remedial reading is an evidenced-based strategy designed to increase reading fluency and comprehension (Therrien, 2004). It has also indicated in order to achieve comprehension, students should read the provided material three to four times, but reading the passage more than four times does not increase comprehension (Therrien, 2004).The remedial reading strategy is likely successful because it incorporates feedback from the instructor to the student reader. According to Crowe (2005), studies show feedback given during oral reading improves children’s word accuracy, reading comprehension and fluency. Intervention programs involving comprehension-building skills, like remedial reading, strengthen vocabulary (McCardle et al., 2001). This method of practice increases language skills and builds general knowledge setting a foundation for basic life skills.