As our world becomes more and more global, Zoom has become the best way to connect in many ways.

Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has made Zoom the program of choice for all businesses, and especially in education.

Zoom has allowed for a new way to get programs for reading, math, and science to reach students in a new and innovative way. Zoom has become the top tool for instruction from kindergarten to university courses. It is a shift in instruction and teaching that is likely to be long lasting.

However, navigating the world of online teaching has been challenging for many teachers. Of course, it requires becoming familiar with Zoom and all its features.

Reading instruction in particular can be challenging for elementary teachers. But, there are also some great online programs for reading and apps that can help teachers make reading instruction Zoom engaging and fun for them and their students.

How can I teach reading online?

Teachers will need to adapt to new forms of teaching instead of trying to convert their in-classroom strategies for the online format. Here are some tips and tricks for teaching reading online:

• Keep it simple – Reading instruction online needs to be kept as simple as possible. Stick to having one activity and work with one reading for several lessons. This more intensive approach can help your students in the long run to spend more time reading. This can help them improve their reading fluency and their reading comprehension.
  
• Stay interactive and engaging – The most important aspect of teaching reading online is to keep lessons as interactive and engaging as possible. Teachers should rely on activities that allow for more student-centered work such as virtual read alouds or playing reading games.
• Use Visuals – Using visual aids such as slideshows, mind maps, or even drawings can help make your reading instruction more engaging. Teachers can also use tools where children can make their own visuals like online storybook makers or virtual whiteboards.
• Think-Pair-Share – This classic teaching strategy is easily adaptable on Zoom and makes for a great way to practice reading comprehension online. Often used as a pre- or post- reading activity, Think-Pair-Share is a great way to introduce a reading material or have a discussion after reading.

On Zoom, teachers can introduce a topic or discussion question to students then pair them off in breakout rooms. Students can come back together as a class and share their ideas in the whole class Zoom session.

• Independent practice – Reading instruction via Zoom also will rely heavily on promoting independent practice. This means providing students with ample materials and time to read on their own. In the Zoom session, teachers can focus on having pre- and post- reading activities to introduce new reading materials and then check for comprehension.
• Use apps and online reading games – A great way to utilize online tools on Zoom for reading instruction is to use reading apps and online reading games in the Zoom session.

Using the share screen feature, teachers and students can play online reading games or use reading apps together that can make for a much more interactive and engaging learning experience.

What programs for reading can I use on Zoom?

There are tons and tons of reading apps and online reading programs available for teachers to use on Zoom. Here are some handy and easy ones to use for reading instruction on Zoom:

• Readability – This reading app is a great one for teachers to recommend to parents of new readers to use at home.

Teachers can have students use this app for their independent practice and then check their progress through progress reports that the app provides. It is a great tool for students who might be struggling with learning to read because it essentially acts like a private reading tutor for the student.

Many teachers might not have the time to work individually with students who are behind, so this app makes for a great alternative to have on hand for students if their teacher is not available to help practice reading.

• My Story School eBook Maker – This is a great app to use for creating visual aids for reading instruction. Students can also create their own story book using the app which can help them improve their reading comprehension and fluency.
• Jamboard on Google – While Zoom also has a white board feature, Jamboard is much more interactive digital whiteboard and provides much more features. This is another great tool for teachers to use on Zoom to help them create more visual and engaging reading instruction.
• Sight Words Learning Games and Flash Cards – Teachers and students can both have fun with reading instruction with this gaming app. This sight words- focused app helps students learn new sight words through six interactive games and flash cards. Teachers can use the share screen feature on Zoom to play the games together as a class.

Teaching online is not a new concept, but it is fast becoming a primary form of education. Teaching reading online to elementary students, however, is new territory for many teachers.

The key to making Zoom work for reading instruction is using the online classroom to your advantage.

Using online tools and apps such as Readability can make online classrooms engaging and fun learning environments.

Reading instruction online can be difficult for teachers, but is certainly not impossible especially with strong visual aids and engaging learning opportunities for students.

Children struggling to read during the pandemic might be receiving extra assistance through their school, or, perhaps they might not qualify. For kids learning virtually or those who are on a hybrid schedule, the extra ‘push-in’ for reading instruction may be via meeting platforms (like Zoom).

Whether kids are in the classroom or in a virtual environment, parents may need to implement their own reading programs at home to help their children boost their reading skills. For those who need help in establishing an at-home curriculum, use this Parents’ Guide to Creating a home reading program.

A Reading Instruction Primer

Parents know their child best, and it’s important to understand that what works for one child won’t work for every child. Children may struggle to read for many reasons. Some may simply have fallen behind peers—maybe they don’t enjoy reading. Other children may have medical-related diagnoses that make learning to read more difficult.

Parents can choose multiple pieces of the guide to use for their home instruction. Create a program that works for a child’s individual needs, and, of course, for the parent’s schedule. Most parents also don’t have a background in elementary education or reading instruction, so many of the ideas for at-home instruction can be implemented by anyone…no education degree required!

Ideas for Reading Fun

Embracing the joy of reading may go a long way to encouraging children to read more or to even just pick up a book. So how do parents implement a program at home that focuses on the joy of literacy? Games, special reading environments, and other out-of-the-box ideas can help children discover and uncover the reading adventure.

Reading Games

Reading is a form of entertainment but some children might not perceive reading to be any form of entertainment. Parents, however, can help make reading a bit more of an adventure by playing reading games with kids.

Kids may be able to pick up on when games are really lessons in disguise, so parents shouldn’t make games boring! Not sure what games to play? Try these:

Sight Word Scavenger Hunt

Younger children may still be learning sight words. These are words that they need to identify on sight. Often, teachers will provide a list of sight words that each child needs to memorize.

Parents can help children practice identifying these words by encouraging them to find sight words out in the wild. Going to the grocery store? Have children find words on boxes, signs or even clothes (think novelty t-shirts and sweaters). Even street signs can be a great location for sight words. Parents can have children check off each word as they are discovered. Maybe there is a prize for finding all the sight words!

Catch & Tell

Blow up a beach ball and write questions for kids related to story/book comprehension.  These balls also can be purchased online and are printed with standard prompts. If parents choose to DIY, opt for prompts related to a child’s reading level or comprehension goals. Questions related to the ‘wh’ questions work well for this game. Who is the main character? What are they doing? When/Where does the story take place? Or maybe parents write prompts related to more detailed inquiries; perhaps the sections of the ball could ask children to talk about the differences between characters or the significance of an event.

How do kids play Catch & Tell? Parents toss the ball, and the child has to answer the prompt that lands face up. This game can have multiple players—get siblings involved! And, of course, parents also can and should play, too, by talking about the book they are reading.

Board Games…with Words!

There are many games that focus on words; Scrabble and Bananagrams are just two popular options. Creating words can help kids recognize phonetic patterns and may help them expand their vocabulary. Parents can find other types of word or reading board games online. Even board games that encourage kids to read clues or cards related to the game may help them practice reading.  

Word Game Competitions

Parents can also host their own word game competition. Using a dry erase board, choose a word or a phrase and use dashes to represent each letter of the word or phrase. Kids need to take turns guessing letters, and the person who solves the puzzle wins. Parents can draw a flower or other picture to show when a guessed letter isn’t in the puzzle; for every missed letter, a new piece of the picture is added. When the picture is completed without the puzzling being solved, the player or players lose the round.

Online Word Games

There are many games that can be downloaded via Google Play or the App Store that focus on reading or words. Not sure what games are a good fit? Just do a quick search on a phone or device for reading games or word games. Just make sure the game is appropriate for a child’s age/maturity!

Reading Field Trips: Let’s Go!

Stories can make awesome field trips! While parents might not be able to replicate a favorite event or scene in a book, they can take children to places that their favorite character visited in the story. Or maybe even a place somehow related to the story. Reading field trips can include trips to museums, parks or maybe even a historic landmark (if it’s close). Parents should ask children about the book or story and get details on places and events featured in the book. This is also a great way to help kids retell parts of the story. If a book focuses on outer space, a visit to a planetarium would be a great field trip. Visit a history museum for a book that focuses on a historical figure. Or think of a trip that’s related in another way.

These trips also could be virtual, and, during Covid, this may be the only option! Virtual field trips, however, offer almost unlimited options for children to explore their curiosity. While a trip to a museum in France might have once required a large budget for those living in the U.S., a virtual visit is accessible to almost anyone with access to the internet. Sites like YouTube also can include lots of video tours of historic locales or even documentaries about famous people.

If parents are unsure about where to go, just do a quick online search. Every book offers possibilities for a field trip! So get traveling with kids. And, of course, be sure to talk about the book after or even during that excursion.

Build a Reading Habitat

Reading together or even encouraging a child to read solo might be more enticing with a unique reading environment. Build a reading fort with blankets and chairs! Or create a pillow nest using all the pillows in the house and let kids get cozy. Books also can be read outdoors under a tree or even with a flashlight in a tent under the stars!

Cook Up Book Recipes

Sometimes books include details about foods that characters enjoy. These scenes may have us craving a particular food or restaurant. Or maybe the food explored in the story is new or unusual. Use food descriptions in stories to cook up some reading adventures!

Enjoying foods or entrees from stories may help kids immerse in the story…with their senses. Cooking new recipes also could be a great way to help them practice reading, too. And measuring ingredients adds a math lesson! Win-win!

Parents might not know what foods their kids are learning about in those books and stories, and this is where reading conversations become an important part of the lesson. For each book a child reads, make a habit of enjoying a ‘story food.’ Ask kids what their favorite characters are eating, and then hunt together for a recipe for the meal.

Maybe the character is enjoying something simple—like a crumpet. If a child has never tried a crumpet or even knows what a crumpet is, this is a great excuse to find them at the store. They can enjoy tea and crumpets! Or maybe orange marmalade (like a favorite fictional bear). Foods pop up throughout stories, and kids may enjoy trying out all these new tastes. Even if they don’t like new food, the experience helps broaden their taste buds!

Pop some Popcorn and Watch the Movie

When a child is finished reading their book, research if there is a movie adaptation! Watching the big-screen adaptation of a book can be a great way to talk about plots and characters. Ask children if they liked the book or the movie better. Have them describe how the character in the movie was different from the book. Did the character in the movie look like the writer described them in the book? Sometimes the movie is nothing like the book, and this can be an interesting topic to discuss.

Not sure what books were made into a movie? Imagination Soup offers an extensive list of kids’ books that were interpreted for the screen.

Practice…Everyday!

While field trips, new foods, and even games can help make reading more fun and more of an immersive experience, reading every day should be on the list as a ‘must’ for an at-home reading program. These activities are supplements to highlight how reading can reach into all aspects of daily life—from foods characters eat to the places they visit. The gateway to learning about these experiences, though, is through the pages of the books.

Most schools encourage children to read nightly—20 minutes. Parents whose children struggle to read at grade-level, though, may feel these minutes are a battle. So should parents leave kids to tick off these minutes? For kids who need extra support, parents may decide to read with kids…or to them. A great way to encourage kids to read while offering support is to alternate pages; a parent reads one page, the child reads the next page.

During reading sessions, parents should ask questions about the story or book. This helps gauge a child’s understanding of what they read. For children reading chapter books, parents may ask questions at the end of each chapter or maybe after several pages (in case children really struggle with reading comprehension).

Listen Up!

Some kids may enjoy hearing a book read to them. Parents may use audiobooks so that kids can listen to the story. This may help them understand inflection of emotion during scenes from a book or story and may help them gauge a character’s intent (from the voice inflection). Parents may want to encourage kids to follow along in a book as the story is read.

After listening to the story, parents may have kids read the same chapter silently or maybe parents could help children read it aloud. Audiobooks can be a great option for children who really like the auditory component. And parents can often find audiobooks at a local library.

Reading at the Right Level

Reading the right level books may help ensure that kids aren’t challenged by vocabulary that is too difficult or by plots that are too complex. And parents probably also don’t want to choose books that are too easy, as easy books might not challenge children to progress to a higher reading level.

Finding that ideal balance may be difficult. Parents who are unsure about their child’s reading level can reach out to the child’s teacher for guidance. They can provide a range of reading levels that are appropriate and ensure that the books aren’t too complicated. Struggling readers could be discouraged, too, if a book is too long. They may lose focus or lose track of the plot.

Children who read at a level below their peers, however, may be frustrated that they can’t read the same books or stories. Parents can read higher-level books to their kids to ensure that they don’t miss out on popular characters and books. Parents may wish to talk to kids about the book as they read and ask questions related to the story to help children better understand the plot.

Use a Reading App or Online Reading Program

Some parents don’t have the time to sit and read with their kids or help them with their reading. Others aren’t sure how to properly help their child with reading so that they can meet grade-level expectations. For children who need extra enrichment and additional support, parents may explore reading apps or online reading programs that were developed to help children gain proficiency.

Parents should look for programs that offer engaging content to ensure that lessons don’t become boring. Stories should include colorful illustrations to break up chunks of texts and interactive features to keep kids immersed in the stories. Content also should be leveled for a child’s specific needs; stories shouldn’t be too easy or difficult.

Parents also shouldn’t be left in the dark about their child’s progress. Look for programs like Readability that offer a space for parents to check how long a child engaged in lessons as well as their reading progress. Readability also provides engaging and immersive content, and, yes, lots of great illustrations to help children visualize the story as they read.

Not every program is a fit for every child. Readability offers a free seven-day trial for kids (and parents) to check out the features and benefits of the program. Ready to try Readability? Start a free trial today!

Reading is not just an important academic skill, but an important life skill that your child will use all throughout their life.

Most people probably cannot even remember not being able to read, but reading is the foundation for learning and communicating.

Reading is such an imperative skill in our lives that we use it every day from the classroom to doing laundry.

For children that are having trouble mastering the skill, at home reading programs for struggling readers can help them to catch up to their reading level. 

What makes a good reading program?

An at home reading program for struggling readers takes into account the specific skills they need guidance with but also gives them a holistic approach.

 The main reading skills that new readers need to improve and build are:

• Vocabulary 

• Phonemic awareness 

• Phonics 

• Fluency 

• Reading Comprehension 

Vocabulary

Learning new words, especially sight words, is important for quickly identifying words in text.

Vocabulary building helps to let other reading skills work intuitively; for example, without a significant vocabulary bank, readers often have a difficult time understanding what a text says.

This greatly affects their reading comprehension, so a program that encourages your child to learn new words often is important. 

Phonemic awareness vs. Phonics

Although phonemic awareness and phonics are connected concepts, they are different skills your child needs to read effectively. Understanding the differences between the two can help you understand where your child might be struggling.

Phonemic awareness involves understanding that language is made up of words and those words are created by putting together individual units of sounds called phonemes and how to articulate them.

Phonics on the other hand builds on phonemic awareness skills as your child then becomes aware of the letters associated with specific sounds. This is where learning an alphabet is an important step in introducing reading at a very young age.

Phonics helps new readers to acquire the knowledge of how sounds and letters work in a language. How combinations of letters create certain sounds and then creates structured meaning.

Since both phonemic awareness and phonics are so important for being able to recognize letters and word structures, a good reading program will incorporate some sort of learning associated with this.

Whether it is alphabet practice or pronunciation practice, practicing and developing these reading skills are important for building other skills such as vocabulary and fluency.

Fluency 

Fluency is a major step for new readers. It is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression.

Essentially, the reader should be able to sound “natural” when they are reading and not sound choppy and awkward.

This again is a skill that requires other reading skills to be developed and working correctly. Often if fluency is an issue for a new reader, some underlying issues might be happening such as problems with vocabulary or phonemic awareness.

Finding a reading program that helps with developing fluency can be tricky because it involves incorporating so many other reading skills. A good reading program can offer extensive reading opportunities to further develop “natural” reading.

Reading Comprehension

Arguably, often the main goal for reading is reading comprehension. Reading comprehension is being able to understand what the text is saying and being able to make connections to prior knowledge.

In order for reading comprehension to take place, all the essential reading skills: vocabulary, phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency, need to be working effectively.

Reading comprehension can be developed and practiced with guidance and effective learning methods.

How to effectively use reading programs for kids at home

Using a reading program for kids at home is important in giving them reading practice outside of their school work.

An effective reading program not only gives your child an opportunity to learn and practice but also makes learning and reading fun for them.

A reading program can provide great guidance and learning when used effectively at home.

Here are some ways to incorporate a reading program for your kids to use at home:

• Use daily – If you want to see actual improvement in your child’s reading skills, it is important to use a reading program regularly.

Use the program as daily practice for when your child is not in school such as summer and winter breaks. This can help keep their learning consistent and show progress more quickly. 

• Keep it fun – While you want your child to practice reading regularly, you also do not want them to get bored of working with a reading program.

Choose reading programs that are interactive and game-like. This will help prevent it from feeling like more homework for them.

• Treat it as a reward – Instead of giving your child a treat or present, reward them with some screen time using the reading program. This can also show them the value of reading.
• Play with them – A great way to get reading programs to work is to do the program with your child.

Using the reading program with them can help you get a sense of their reading level and progress as well as makes it a great way to bond with your child in order to help them learn.

• Practice extensive reading – Extensive reading is reading a lot and reading for fun. There is not necessarily a goal such as targeting vocabulary building.

Extensive reading is really about building a positive relationship with reading by reading lots of enjoyable reading materials.

By finding a reading program like Readability, which has a seemingly endless library of reading materials, your child can continuously enjoy reading and at the same time improve their reading skills.

• Give them positive feedback – Children respond well to positive feedback and giving them words of encouragement can help them to feel motivated to read more often and build their reading skills.

There are also reading programs that give you progress reports so you can view and share your child’s success with them.

Why is being a good reader important for kids?

Obviously, reading is incredibly important for children to learn and to use in school. If your child is struggling with reading, it can often be frustrating for both them and you.

Many children want to give up and might avoid doing homework or practicing on their reading programs.

If that occurs with your child, it might be helpful to remind them of the various reasons why reading is so important for them.

• Learn more words – As mentioned previously, vocabulary is a huge part of learning to read. The more words your child knows the easier it will be for them to read.

However, the best way to build vocabulary? Read more. The more your child reads the more exposure they have to new words then the more words they will know.

• Practice makes perfect – Just as the best way to build vocabulary is to actually read, the best way to read better is to read more!
• Makes them more independent and confident – Independent reading does not come overnight. But reading more often can help your child to learn to read on their own and eventually learn on their own.
• Helps them navigate the world – Reading can open up knowledge about the world and different cultures. But, even just thinking at the simplistic level – reading happens all around us when we read signs, labels, and instructions.

Your child can understand what is happening around them and where they are when they are able to read successfully.

• Safety first – Street signs and label warnings help to keep people safe, but in order for them to work, you have to be able to read them. That is why reading can help keep your child safe. 
• Leads them to success – Reading is so important to academic success because it is the primary way we learn.

Initially, your child is learning to read in school, but eventually they will make the shift to reading to learn. If they are not able to read, they will struggle with learning in school in other subjects.

• Enhances their imagination and creativity – Reading helps to develop and enhance your child’s imagination and creativity by forcing them to imagine what the story that is in text might look like.
• Keeps them entertained – Children are often spending their time with technology and spend a lot of their freetime on screens.

Reading programs on tablets and smartphones can help keep their entertainment time educational and keeps them practicing to read while having fun.

• Improves their grammar – Just like vocabulary, reading can help enhance actual reading skills such as grammar.

The more exposure your child has to different grammar structures the more familiar they will become and be able to use those structures and grammar rules themselves.

• Enhances their writing skills – All the reading skills also can be translated into writing skills. Reading and writing are reciprocal skills, so the better the reader your child is, the better writer they will become as well.
  

Reading is such an important skill for your child not just in school, but in life in general. It is how we learn, communicate, know where we are, and even know how to cook something.

However, just because reading is such an essential skill does not make it an easy skill to learn for everyone. If your child is struggling with learning to read, they will likely benefit from using an at home reading program for struggling readers such as Readability.

Readability is a great app to use for practicing reading skills every day. It hits every essential reading skill from vocabulary to reading comprehension.

Reading and writing are closely related language skills. Success in one skill will likely lead to success in the other. 2nd grade is an integral time to improve and build both these skills.

If your child ends up struggling in one of these skills they will likely struggle in the other. The best way to help your child improve their skills is to find reading programs for 2nd graders that also improve writing.

What is the relationship between reading and writing?

This is because reading and writing are reciprocal processes, which means they heavily rely on one another to work effectively.

Reading instruction is more effective when it is taught with writing instruction and vice versa.

Research has consistently found that extensive reading will often lead to better writers. This is because children who read extensively are exposed to new vocabulary and grammar conventions more often and are then able to actually use and produce this vocabulary and grammar themselves.

Additionally, reading more and reading a variety of genres can help children learn more information and gain prior knowledge.

The main way we learn new information is through reading and is a primary way children learn in school. Being able to articulate what we have read and learned comes from effective reading comprehension.

Writing is one of the main ways we share information we know, so in order to learn information we need to read.

In the same way reading highly affects writing, writing highly affects reading. Writing can especially help younger children and new readers learn to develop phonemic awareness, phonics, and build vocabulary.

As children become more familiar with building their own words such as using suffixes and prefixes to modify words, they are able to learn to decode new words in texts that they are reading.

When children begin writing their own longer texts, writing can help them analyze and comprehend the reading materials that they are reading as well.

Writing about the texts they are reading such as summarizing can help them improve their reading comprehension.

What should my 2nd grader know?

By second grade, your child is able to write and read more complex sentence structures.

 When it comes to writing:

• They are working on their basic writing skills like capitalization and punctuation as well as spelling.
• They are able to write an organized piece of writing like a short essay with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• They are also able to write and distinguish between different genres such as a fiction versus a nonfiction piece. 
• They also can understand the writing process better and revise and edit their writing to improve it.

Reading skills should mirror their writing skills:

• They are able to read and decode new vocabulary much better. 
• They are also able to understand and decode complex sentence structures.
• They are able to read and distinguish between different genres such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
• They are able to make connections with the reading and their prior knowledge. 
• They are able to self-correct mistakes as they read and re-reads when necessary.

What reading programs for 2nd graders also improve writing?

If your child is struggling or if you just would like to give them some extra practice, a reading program can help them improve both their reading and writing skills.

Reading programs essentially are for providing extensive reading opportunities, but they can also be a great resource for improving writing.

Here are some reading programs for 2nd graders that can also help improve writing:

• Readability – This app is a great reading program that can help 2nd graders improve their writing through reading comprehension practice.

The app also provides feedback and error correction for pronunciation errors which can help your child improve their phonemic and phonetic awareness.

Readability also offers an extensive library of reading materials at various reading levels to work with so your child will never run out of stories to read.

• Local library reading groups – Many libraries offer weekend or afterschool reading groups or book clubs for children. The groups often read a book or several books together then host discussions about the book. This can help your child learn to analyze a book effectively as well as help with their summarizing.
• ABCMouse – ABCMouse offers several different activities to help your child improve their reading skills and writing skills. Through fun games and activities your child can work on targeted reading skills such as vocabulary or writing skills such as grammar.
• Free Reading Program – The Free Reading Program is used by many schools to help supplement reading curriculums. The site offers thousands of activities that help with reading that also help improve writing skills such as building vocabulary and improving reading comprehension and analysis.

Both reading and writing are skills that are needed to improve learning. Eventually your child will make the switch from learning how to use these skills to actually using them to learn new information.

For students that are struggling in one or both of these areas, immediate intervention in the form of reading programs can help them catch up to their classmates and improve their skills.

Reading programs such as Readability can help improve both reading and writing skills at the same time. Improving reading and writing skills can make a world of difference for your child’s learning process.

English as a Second Language (ESL) students often have difficulty when it comes to learning to read. Learning to read in a new language can be intimidating and frustrating. 

Many students will end up searching for “reading tutoring programs near me” and will likely come up with tons and tons of results for help.

However, these reading tutoring programs might not actually end up working for them. ESL students, especially older students, have very different needs from other students.

There are some linguistic differences that make reading difficult for them and unless a tutor or teacher is trained in identifying these linguistic differences, they will have difficulty helping the ESL student or even misdiagnose them with a learning disability. 

That is why it is important for ESL students to find help that is specifically catered to meet their needs.

What are some common ESL reading errors?

ESL students often struggle with common reading errors that also reflect in their writing.

1. Vocabulary – Vocabulary is a big concern for ESL students no matter what their native language might be. Often, these students struggle with reading because they are having trouble with the vocabulary in a reading. 
2. Grammar – The issue of grammar might seem like something more connected to writing skills. However, familiarity with grammar will also greatly affect reading skills. Different languages have different structures and grammar rules that might be very different from English. 
3. Reading speed – Because ESL students struggle with vocabulary and grammar, their reading speed becomes highly affected as it will take them longer to decode words and sentences. 
4. Fluency – Reading fluency also becomes a common issue for ESL students as they struggle with other essential reading skills. Fluency relies on other reading skills such as vocabulary and quick decoding. ESL students will likely struggle with fluency if they are having trouble with vocabulary or reading speed. 
5. Reading Comprehension – Comprehension is an integral reading skill that can often be challenging for ESL students. This is because reading comprehension also heavily relies on other reading skills such as vocabulary and fluency.

Reading comprehension also depends on how much prior knowledge and background a reader has about the reading material. If ESL students do not have the same cultural context or background as their classmates, they might struggle with understanding the reading material.

Where can I find reading tutoring programs for ESL students?

ESL students often need reading help from experienced tutors and teachers who understand the unique challenges that they might face when learning to read. 

Finding local help can sometimes be difficult for ESL students since they need to find specialized reading assistance. 

Here are some reading tutoring programs for ESL students that can help them improve their reading skills at home:

1. Local library – Your local library is a great resource for reading assistance. Not only do they supply an almost endless list of reading materials, they often have reading programs for English language learners for free. Local volunteers offer their help to be reading partners to ESL students and help them learn to read. 
2. Local community college – A local college is a great place to find a private reading tutor to hire. Many students advertise their services as a tutor, so you can often find tutoring services at a reasonable rate.
3. Reading apps – Private tutoring is a great way to supplement learning for ESL students. However, they can be quite costly. A reading app is a great alternative to hiring a pricey tutor because you can save some money and have reading help whenever and wherever you want.

What is the best reading tutoring app for ESL students?

There are a plethora of reading apps available that can help ESL students improve various reading skills. However, a good app for ESL students to use is one that encompasses all these skills and gives them a more holistic approach to learning to read. 

Readability offers that holistic experience for ESL students and makes reading fun and approachable. 

The reading app works just like a private reading tutor for your student. The user has the option of having the app read the story to them as they follow along or they can read the story aloud as the app listens to them. 

As they read, the app listens for any pronunciation errors then gives them feedback and correction. ESL students can gain multiple practice in different language skills: reading, listening, and speaking.

Readability also offers help to improve reading comprehension. Using their Interactive Voice Based Questions and Answers, the app provides questions about the reading that your child can answer to check their understanding. 

ESL students often struggle with reading because it requires building vocabulary and understanding a completely new grammar pattern.

However, ESL students can vastly improve when they are provided the right help and tools, such as Readability, which provide targeted help for their specific reading needs.

Some children are just gifted and enthusiastic readers. Something just “clicks” for them when it comes to this language skill.

While it is great to have a child who enjoys and has advanced reading skills, it can also be difficult to keep them interested because they are more likely to get bored with reading materials or instruction that are meant for their grade level. 

Often, reading help or intervention is focused mainly for struggling or new readers. However, it could benefit your child to find a first grade reading program for advanced readers that can actually enhance their reading skills and challenge them.

What level should my first grader be reading? 

First grade is where children get their reading foundation and is a critical grade when it comes to reading success.

During this grade, your child is learning and will likely be able to read independently. Advanced readers might already be able to read independently by the time they enter the grade level.

By the end of first grade your child will be able to recognize about 150 sight words. They should also be able to spell and recognize single syllable words.

When it comes to reading comprehension, first graders are completely capable of discussing and answering questions about what they have just read. They should also be able to distinguish the differences between fiction and nonfiction works.

While these are the average reading milestones that most first graders reach, your child might already have reached these before they were in first grade.

Advanced readers often will reach reading milestones well ahead of their peers. The challenge with advanced readers is not necessarily reaching reading goals, but keeping them interested and challenged enough to keep on improving their reading skills.

How do you challenge advanced readers? 

The mistake many parents make when trying to challenge advanced readers is to give them more reading or more work. However, that will only make them resistant to reading and will likely get bored or overwhelmed.

Instead, parents should aim to give their advanced readers materials that are just different from what they might be getting from school.

• Get them books that are different from the ones they are reading in school. 
• Start reading a series together. This is a great way to get them interested in a longer narrative and also helps them to be more motivated to read. 
• Take a field trip to the library where they can choose books to take home that actually interest them. 
• Use cookbooks to help show them a different genre of writing and shows them how reading happens in all forms of life including in the kitchen. 
• Read a book that has been turned into a movie then watch the film version as a family movie night. You can compare and contrast what they thought of the movie versus the book. 
• Let them create their own stories and books. You can have them create their own comic books and picture books then read them to you or to younger siblings. 
• Use a reading program that can grow with them like Readability.

Which reading program can help advanced readers? 

Readability is a great reading program that can truly benefit advanced readers and helps them improve their already stellar reading skills.

Readability is great for advanced readers because it provides:

• Personalized materials that are based on the reading assessment that the app performs as your child uses the app. 
• A large library of original content that is constantly being updated and provides materials at the appropriate reading level based on the app’s assessment. 
• Feedback and error correction so that your child is always improving their pronunciation and fluency. 
• Reading comprehension practice that can help your advanced reader think critically about reading materials and practice important critical thinking and analyzing skills. 
• Practice for reading aloud and listening skills as it gives them the option of having the app read the text to them or they can read the text aloud while the app listens for pronunciation errors. 
• Makes reading interactive and fun to help them continue to read independently.

Advanced readers ultimately need the tools and support that can help them continue to improve their reading skills.

Instead of giving them more work to do, parents and teachers need to provide them with materials that will give them a careful balance of challenging them but also keeps them interested and enthusiastic about reading. Using a reading program such as Readability can help them to continue to read independently and continue to enjoy reading.