Do you have a kid who struggles to read on their grade level? Desperate to help them but unable to hire a tutor? Try assisted reading!!

As a parent working one-on-one with your child, you have an incredible opportunity to apply this strategy. It has been called “arguably one of the easiest and most cost-effective methods of developing children's fluency” [1].

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Assisted Reading is also known as the Neurological Impress Method (NIM). While different authors explain the method with slight variations, the gist of it remains the same...

You both read (the same passage) out loud at the same time.

A few more details, AKA "How To":

• Choose instructional level text or use an assigned reading passage/book.

• Plan to spend 10-15 minutes max.

• Sit beside your child. Close enough that your voice will be directed toward their ear.

• Read out loud at a slightly faster pace than your child.

• Don’t worry about correcting, just supply the word as you read, leading your child along with your voice.

• Use your finger if that helps them to follow the text.

As they become more proficient at reading (or as you read the same passage a second, third time, etc.) then begin to delay your voice slightly behind your child's. So you are still reading aloud with them but allowing them to lead. Don’t give them a heads-up, just begin to slow your voice down slightly so that there is a half-second or so delay from them starting a word to you chiming in. In this way, you can hear that they are reading the words and not just waiting for your voice to clue them in. Again, you don't need to do this on the first time. Rather, use this strategy as they read a passage more than once and become more confident.

Want to listen to me explain this? Check out this podcast episode where I was interviewed and explained this idea. (Or read this blog to learn more about this awesome podcast for homeschooling parents here.)

I can’t promise a miracle, but for such an easy and FREE concept…it’s certainly worth a try, don’t you think!?

References:

1. Flood, J., Lapp, D., & Fisher, D. (2005). Neurological impress methods plus. Reading Psychology, 26, 147-150.

2. Rasinski, Timothy. (2010). The fluent reader: Oral and silent reading strategies for building fluency, word recognition & comprehension. Scholastic.

3. Fountas, I. C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2001). Guiding readers and writers: Teaching comprehension, genre, and content literacy. Heinemann.