Reading Comprehension Strategies for Struggling Readers

Reading the words on a page is only half the battle. True reading success comes from understanding, analyzing, and connecting with the text. For struggling readers, this can feel like an insurmountable challenge—but with the right strategies and support, every student can become a confident, capable reader.

Understanding the Struggle

When students struggle with reading comprehension, it's rarely about effort or intelligence. Often, they're missing specific skills or strategies that proficient readers use automatically. They might decode words perfectly but struggle to grasp the bigger picture. Or they may get lost in details without understanding the main idea.

The good news? Reading comprehension is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and mastered. Let's explore proven strategies that make a real difference.

Before Reading: Setting the Stage for Success

Preview the Text

Before diving in, teach students to become text detectives. Have them:

• Read the title and look at any images or graphics

• Skim headings and subheadings

• Notice bolded or italicized words

• Read the first and last paragraphs

This preview activates background knowledge and gives readers a framework for understanding what's to come.

Make Predictions

Ask students, "What do you think this will be about?" Predictions engage curiosity and give readers a purpose. When students make predictions, they're more invested in discovering whether they were right, which naturally increases focus and retention.

Set a Purpose

Help students identify why they're reading. Are they reading for entertainment? To answer specific questions? To learn new information? Having a clear purpose helps readers know what to pay attention to.

During Reading: Active Engagement Strategies

Visualize the Story

Encourage students to create mental movies as they read. Ask questions like:

• "What do you see in your mind?"

• "Can you draw what's happening?"

• "What colors, sounds, or smells are in this scene?"

Visualization transforms abstract words into concrete images, making comprehension deeper and more memorable.

Ask Questions

Proficient readers constantly question the text. Teach students to ask:

• Who, what, where, when, why, and how questions

• "Why did the character do that?"

• "What might happen next?"

• "Does this make sense?"

When something doesn't make sense, teach students to stop, reread, and seek clarification rather than pushing forward confused.

Make Connections

Help students link the text to their own lives:

• Text-to-self: "Has anything like this happened to you?"

• Text-to-text: "Does this remind you of another book or story?"

• Text-to-world: "How does this relate to what's happening in the world?"

These connections create anchor points that make content more meaningful and easier to remember.

Annotate and Mark Up the Text

If possible, have students:

• Underline main ideas

• Circle unfamiliar words

• Put question marks next to confusing parts

• Draw stars next to important information

• Write brief notes in margins

Physical interaction with text increases engagement and creates a reference for later review.

Use Graphic Organizers

Visual tools help organize information:

• Story maps for narrative texts (characters, setting, problem, solution)

• Venn diagrams for comparing and contrasting

• Sequence charts for ordering events

• Main idea and details webs

These organizers externalize the thinking process, making it visible and manageable.

After Reading: Deepening Understanding

Summarize in Your Own Words

Can the student explain what happened in 3-5 sentences? Summarizing requires understanding the main ideas and distinguishing them from less important details. Start with short passages and gradually increase length as skills improve.

Retell the Story

For narrative texts, have students retell the story using:

• Beginning, middle, and end structure

• The "Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then" framework

• Story elements (characters, setting, problem, events, solution)

Answer Questions at Different Levels

Mix up question types:

• Literal: Right there in the text ("Who is the main character?")

• Inferential: Reading between the lines ("How did the character feel?")

• Critical: Forming opinions ("Do you agree with what the character did?")

This variety ensures students can work with text at multiple levels of complexity.

Discuss and Share

Conversation deepens comprehension. Create opportunities for students to:

• Discuss their thoughts with peers or family

• Debate interpretations

• Share favorite parts or confusing sections

• Make recommendations

Talking about reading reinforces understanding and reveals gaps that need addressing.

Strategies for Different Types of Struggling Readers

The Speed Reader Who Misses Details

These students race through text without absorbing information. Help them:

• Read with a finger or pointer to slow down

• Stop at the end of each paragraph to summarize

• Set reading time goals rather than page goals

• Practice reading aloud to increase mindfulness

The Word-by-Word Reader

Students who fixate on individual words often lose the forest for the trees. Try:

• Repeated reading of the same passage for fluency

• Audiobooks paired with text to model phrasing

• Chunking text into meaningful phrases

• Building sight word vocabulary to reduce decoding load

The Passive Reader

Some students read words without engaging with meaning. Activate their thinking with:

• Sticky notes for reactions and questions

• Reading with a specific mission (find 3 facts, identify the problem)

• Partner reading with discussion breaks

• Choice in reading materials to increase motivation

Building Vocabulary: The Foundation of Comprehension

You can't understand what you read if you don't know what the words mean. Support vocabulary development through:

• Pre-teaching key words before reading

• Context clue detective work (look at surrounding sentences)

• Word part analysis (prefixes, suffixes, root words)

• Creating personal word banks with definitions and examples

• Using new words in conversation and writing

The Role of Choice and Interest

Never underestimate the power of reading something you actually care about. When students choose texts that interest them—whether it's graphic novels, sports magazines, fantasy series, or nonfiction about dinosaurs—comprehension naturally improves because motivation is high.

Build reading volume by:

• Letting students choose their own books regularly

• Reading a variety of genres and formats

• Visiting libraries and bookstores

• Following students' passions and curiosities

When to Seek Additional Support

If your child continues to struggle despite consistent practice with these strategies, it may be time to seek professional help. Consider tutoring or evaluation if you notice:

• Comprehension difficulties across all types of texts

• Frustration or avoidance of reading

• Significant gaps compared to grade-level expectations

• Lack of progress despite months of intervention

  
  

The Bottom Line

Reading comprehension doesn't improve by accident—it improves through intentional strategy use, practice, and support. When students learn to actively engage with text before, during, and after reading, they transform from passive word-callers into thoughtful, confident readers.

Every struggling reader has the potential to succeed. Sometimes they just need the right tools, strategies, and encouragement to unlock their capabilities.

Ready to help your child become a stronger reader? Contact us today to learn how

our personalized tutoring can build the comprehension skills and confidence your child needs to thrive. We're here to support every step of the reading journey.