TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING READING AND REMEDIATING READING PROBLEMS

BASAL READING APPROACH

 Basal readers are textbooks used to teach reading and associated skills to schoolchildren. Commonly called "reading books" or "readers" they are usually published as anthologies that combine previously published short stories, excerpts of longer narratives, and original works

Advantages of the basal reading approach

It develops comprehension as the stories contain many details and are often divided into small parts. It progresses from emergent to advanced reading skills. It gives detailed guidance on how to teach and suggest various activities. It is decidedly systematic and sequential in its approach. Vocabulary is introduced, repeated and reinforced throughout all the readers. It provides assessment and diagnostic materials.

 Well organized, each skill is presented in a sequential order. Good scope and sequence; skills are taught continuously throughout all of the grades. Teacher's manual is full of ideas to be used. Readers are colorful, well illustrated, and contain a variety of literature appropriate for each age. Includes systematic instruction in word recognition, comprehension, and some study skills with a gradual introduction of each new skill. A big help to a beginning teacher. Some contain criterion-referenced tests to check skill mastery. Some have an IRI for placement. Stories attempt to be multi-ethnic and non-stereotyping of women.

Disadvantage of basal reading approach

a structured approach that it can stifle the teacher s creativity and result in a rigid and traditional approach to the teaching of reading. It lends itself to the teaching of reading in groups where the needs of the individual might be ignored. provides practice in only one kind of reading material, and does not include the reading of library books, maps, charts or even mathematical problems

 Readability. The stories often vary widely in grade level within a reader. Teachers have a tendency to regard the guide as The Source instead of as a as a guide. Recreational reading for pleasure is often neglected.. Pacing of introduction of new skills is too rapid for some and too slow for others. Students tend to be placed into readers which are too difficult or too easy for them. Stories are sometimes dull.. Teachers tend to use the basal as the entire reading. Not personalized. Not individualized enough. The language in the beginning readers doesn't always match that of the child. Stories at the beginning levels may be dull and unnatural in language patterns.

How does it work

Firstly, learners are encouraged to learn the material. Then the new concepts and vocabulary presented to them. By asking questions, the teacher guides the learners through the reading content for the day. The questions set a specific goal or purpose for the reading. Skills are then developed by using activity books or drill activities. Learners must apply the skills just learned by doing similar activities. Learners are evaluated on their application of the skills learned.