Saint Paul Public Schools
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Best Practices for Teaching Reading to ESL Students Best practices in reading instruction for adults is contingent on several factors. These include: 1. Native vs. non native speakers/readers of EnglishBecause of these variables, it is difficult to compose a definitive list of “best practices” in reading. However, the following are some principles of teaching reading that in my view take into account all of the above factors. 1. Activate Prior Knowledge. On any level and in any background, reading instruction must begin with what a learner already knows. Research suggests that newly acquired knowledge is best remembered if it is linked to something in a learner’s past experience. Therefore, before any reading lesson, present some kind of activity that introduces the lesson based a “common experience” of the class. 2. Preview the reading lesson employing a set pattern of instruction. For example, learners should be instructed to read title and directions, get an overview of the lesson, preview any questions, and then proceed with the lesson. This can be done at any skill level and any length of assignment. 3. Teach “key” vocabulary of any given lesson. Limit the list of “key” vocabulary to a few words. These few words should be crucial to the overall meaning of the lesson. 4. Teach strategies for determining the meaning of unknown words in context. Emphasize that knowing the meaning of individual words is important because of the context in which the word appears. 5. Emphasize that reading comprehension means understanding the overall meaning of whatever a learner is reading. Knowing the meaning of every single word in a reading assignment is unnecessary to the overall goal of reading. 6. Include practice of inferential and critical comprehension skills in reading lessons. Asking guided “why do you think”; “what do you think” questions at any level of instruction helps learners get beyond the expectation that the answers to questions about what they have read should be stated verbatim in the sentence or paragraph.
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