What should you do if a student selects a text that has too high a reading level?

When a student selects a text that exceeds their reading level, suggesting paired reading with a parent can be highly beneficial. This approach allows the student to engage with the text while having support from a more proficient reader. The parent can assist in decoding difficult words, explaining challenging concepts, and modeling fluent reading. This interaction not only promotes comprehension and engagement with the text but also builds confidence in the student as they navigate through higher-level material with guidance. Paired reading encourages collaboration, making the reading experience less daunting for the student and fostering a love of reading at the same time.

Encouraging other methods, such as peer reading or reading aloud to themselves, may not provide the same level of structured support that paired reading with an adult can offer. While these approaches can be useful in other contexts, they may not address the disparities in reading skill as effectively as involving a more experienced reader helps accomplish.