Many reluctant readers actually enjoy reading aloud, especially in a setting away from the classroom and their peers. Hearing a novel or story read aloud can be a riveting experience for the listener, especially when read with expression and excitement. Reading aloud can also help an under-prepared reader direct his energy and focus his attention in a tutoring session.
Give your student the choice to either read aloud to you, or you to him, or you can take turns. Encourage your student to stop the reading at any point and discuss the story. What would he do if he were in the situation of the protagonist? How would he change the story? If the story continues, ask your student what he thinks will happen next. By inserting one’s self into the text, a reader engages in the story and begins to experience the wonder of an alternative world. Reading a to-be-continued story as part of the tutoring session also promotes a sense of accomplishment as your student sees the progress made.
Just as children love to hear their favorite stories again and again, older readers may benefit from hearing a story, poem, or particular passage more than once. Emphasize that rereading a text is an integral part of learning for everyone. It not only helps one better understand the text, but allows time for savoring the details and considering larger issues.
