Closing the Gap: The Crucial Role of Catch-Up Reading for Students
In the journey of education, each student follows a unique path, progressing at their own pace. However, some students may need additional support to catch up, particularly when it comes to reading. Supplemental reading materials can play a critical role in helping these students bridge gaps in literacy skills. Here are some effective ways to provide the support a student needs, both in the classroom and at home.
1. Curate a Well-Stocked Classroom Library: A classroom library with diverse, engaging books makes reading materials accessible and encourages daily reading. Include books across various genres, topics, and reading levels to help students find something they enjoy and feel confident reading. Take a look at these collections guaranteed to spark the interest of students:
Decodable text has never been more accessible! Interesting storylines, charming art, and phonics lessons based on the Science of Reading help developing readers grow their skills.
Emergent readers will delight in these silly and simple stories, featuring decodable words. With two tales in each book and charming illustrations, readers will have fun while developing reading skills. Resources include a finger-tracing letter activity, picture glossary, and high-frequency sight words list for each story.
Help young readers build literacy skills with paired nonfiction and fiction series! Simple text patterns support emergent readers as they build their recognition of high-frequency sight words while strong image-text matches help them predict unfamiliar words.
Lerner™ Sports books bring excitement from the field into readers’ hands. Drive engaged independent reading with high-interest sports titles. From player biographies to greatest-of-all-time teams, there’s something for every sports fan in this 70-title paperback collection.
2. Offer High-Interest, Low-Reading-Level Books: High-interest, low-level books are designed with engaging storylines and relatable characters but written at a lower reading level. These books help struggling readers stay engaged while building essential literacy skills without overwhelming them. Here are some great examples:
This hilarious, irreverent graphic novel series will entice fans of Captain Underpants and The Lego Batman Movie. Spanish cartoonist Artur Laperla presents the adventures of a costumed crime-fighter who turns into a potato and becomes a bigger hero than ever. He faces off against sinister scientists, slugs from space, giant chickens, and more in a series of graphic novels perfect for reluctant readers.
Discover the secrets to gathering resources, building cities, and surviving monsters in Minecraft. Young readers will learn insider tips for fun and creativity and be treated to bright photos of the world of Minecraft.
Join Noah and Blue as they invent and bring to life original animal creations with the help of a magical book. Readers will love the mischief and mayhem in these fun, accessible chapter books.
There are so many unexplained mysteries to explore! From D. B. Cooper’s sudden disappearance from a flying plane to strange ghostly events at the Stanley Hotel, readers will learn educational, fascinating facts in this high-interest series.
This graphic nonfiction series presents true sports stories of grit, leadership, and resistance. Dynamic visuals highlight impactful events on and off the field, as legendary athletes inspire social change. With a lively tone and colorful artwork, each book in the Athletes Who Make a Difference series follows a different sports hero’s early years, journey to the pros, and ability to change the world around them.
Hoops Academy is a basketball high school known for turning out pro players. But mysteries also lurk on its campus. Each athlete must face the unknown and rise above new obstacles in this page-turning series.
3. Provide Take-Home Reading Packs: Take-home packs with a selection of books and reading activities enable students to practice reading outside of school. Including parent-friendly guides and simple activities can involve families in supporting reading at home. Learn more: Take-home book packs.
4. Leverage Audiobooks and Read-Alouds: Audiobooks and classroom read-alouds expose students to vocabulary, language structures, and comprehension skills beyond their reading level. These formats can also reduce reading stress and spark interest in books that might feel intimidating if read independently. Explore: Audio Books.
Create a supportive environment for readers needing extra practice and increase the chances that students will find reading enjoyable and approachable.
For assistance creating this supportive environment, fill out the form below to reach out to our literacy specialist!
