To ask how to improve my 16 yr old’s reading skills

[JuniorPenny]

DS 16 is really bad at reading. He is dyslexic and was a school refuser amongst other things which is why his reading is so appalling. There are obviously a huge amount of reading resources and books out there but basic and beginner books are mainly (understandably) aimed at much younger children. I wondered if anyone can recommend any resources which would be suitable for a 16 year old please?

My ds was similar, also dyslexic. He read lots of newspapers, computer and board games which involved reading, used subtitles etc. Outside of school texts he’s only willingly read two books since he started secondary school. He got his 4 in English Lang gcse, 5 in Literature and hasn’t touched another book since. However his reading has improved dramatically by increasing his ‘incidental’ reading opportunities. I think if we’d forced the issue it would have made it worse and he would have avoided it altogether.

Word wasp www.wordwasp.com/. You but the book and work through it. Theres book before called word hornet if person needs more basic approach first. Then I moved onto toe by toe as it's just reading by same authors

Graphic novels are good reading practise without too many words

The Reading Agency do a series called Quick Reads. They are short and written simply, but are still engaging. Aimed at adults and written by bestselling or celeb authors.

readingagency.org.uk/adults/quick-guides/quick-reads/

Your local library should have a decent set of them.

It might also be worth checking if Read Easy are in your area.

readeasy.org.uk/

They are volunteers who are paired with people to offer support and help with reading.

Also listening to an audiobook while following the text can be hugely beneficial to those struggling. Your local library should have a digital offering through an app such as Borrowbox, Libby, Overdrive etc. You should be able to sign up via the library website and get going digitally pretty much immediately if you don't already have a library membership.

Graphic novels are also another easier way to get engagement with reading as it isn't all a wall of words.

Hope you find something that works for him.

Barrington Stoke make books which are teenaged/adult themed but for those with low reading levels. Apparently they made them after some teenage readers said the content was childish on the lower level books.

I’d also recommend graphic novels. You get the enjoyment of reading with a lot less words. Sentences are usually short too, or in the form of speech, so easier to take in.

if he has any interests I’d try magazines too.

Does he want help with gcse or to enjoy reading ? Et. Depends what he wants. You can’t cure dyslexia but you can learn tools.

but if it is reading you want for enjoyment - there is a free non for profit organisation that gives you all
the audio books like audible but unlimited and free for dyslexia - please let me know if that is what you want and I will send you the link

Barrington Stoke do books that are aimed at higher ages but don’t have so many words if that makes sense. They are also in yellowy paper with more spaces between the sentences.

ring them, they are unbelievably helpful and their books are excellent, for all types of reluctant readers also.
the website is www.barringtonstoke.com
All the best.

Sorry it’s:

www.barringtonstoke.co.uk

There’s a reading scheme called rapid plus which is written for secondary students with very low reading ages www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/secondary/subjects/english-and-media/rapid-plus-1#overview
If Barrington Stoke books are too difficult this might be a place to start, I’ve had massive success with it with struggling readers in my school.

Also going to say Barrington Stoke. If they will let you, it is still really helpful to read together, a paragraph each. Daily. You can then discuss the book and fluency usually picks up in about three weeks

Book from Amazon called how to teach your child to read in 100 lessons.
So amazing. Not at all baby ish. Works on anybody.

Thank you everyone some great ideas here

Sounds like there are some great ideas here…I’m going to go in a different direction. Can you help him or find someone to help him find stuff to read that he’s interested in? Football magazines, the sports section in the news paper or online, gaming websites, lit-RPG novels (I have a recommendation for a very inappropriate but would be loved series for any teenaged boy (not crazy inappropriate my early 20’s nephew enjoyed the hell out of it)).

if he’s getting the structured help he needs, then he also needs to learn how to love reading and get some enjoyment from what he is reading.