What strategy is best for supporting students with literacy delays in gaining self-confidence as readers?

Supporting students with literacy delays in gaining self-confidence as readers involves providing them with the necessary skills and strategies to navigate reading challenges effectively. Instructing students in word-reading and comprehension-repair strategies empowers them to tackle difficult texts independently. By equipping them with tools such as phonics knowledge, decoding techniques, and strategies for making sense of what they read, students can approach reading tasks with a greater sense of agency and competence.

When students are taught how to repair their understanding when they encounter difficulties—through techniques like rereading, asking questions, or summarizing—they learn that struggles are a natural part of the reading process. This knowledge can significantly enhance their self-efficacy as readers. Furthermore, the ability to self-correct and engage with complex texts can lead to improved comprehension and a more positive outlook on their reading abilities overall.

Other strategies, such as pairing stronger readers with each student, may offer social support and model good reading behaviors. However, this approach can also inadvertently highlight disparities in reading abilities, potentially diminishing the self-confidence of less skilled readers if not managed carefully. Limiting reading materials to basic texts may stifle their interest and motivation, while encouraging silent reading of books of their choice can be beneficial but does not directly teach the necessary