Instructional Strategies for Reading
This video introduces key reading concepts and explains how instructors can support adult foundational learners using explicit reading strategies.
- The difference between comprehension and decoding
- How to use pre-reading and discussion to build understanding
- Why adult learners need strategies to feel confident and capable
- How to balance meaning and decoding in a lesson
- Ways to plan reading practice that fits into real life
Think about the adult learners you support. How might you adjust your approach to focus more on meaning and real-life reading practice?
Try it out!
After watching, take a moment to look at the first part of the handout (pages 1–6). These pages introduce key concepts about reading, including the balance between comprehension and decoding, and the importance of real-life reading practice.
What everyday reading activities do your learners already do—like reading signs, messages, or instructions? How might you help them recognize and build on those skills?
Try choosing a short, real-life text your learner might encounter (like a note from school or a workplace policy). How could you use pre-reading discussion and focus on meaning to guide your next reading lesson?
When you're ready, continue to the next video to explore the first strategy: RAP, a comprehension strategy.