November 2006
Literacy Tutoring Tip:
Struggling Readers
Question: When my student is stuck, how can I be most helpful without giving him/her the answers?
Tutors are most effective when they help students become independent problem-solvers. While it may be easy and less frustrating to provide your student with the answers, you or another adult will not always be sitting next to him/her!
Here is one helpful model to guide you as you help your student become an independent reader:
Step 1. Tutor models (you do everything).
Example: Read a list of spelling words aloud to your student.
Step 2. Tutor continues to model while student assists (you include your student in the literacy practice).
Example: Read aloud a list of spelling words to your student, but have him/her point out the first letters in each word.
Step 3. Student tries new learning as tutor helps when needed.
Example: Student reads the majority of words on the spelling list, with your assistance.
Step 4. Student applies new learning to real reading situations while tutor observes.
Example: Student reads aloud list of spelling words on his or her own.
OR...
An easier way to describe the process is TO, WITH & BY:
Step 1: Tutor models TO the student.
Step 2 & 3: Tutor works WITH the student.
Step 4: Tutor observes as the student tries it BY himself/herself.
