Abstract
As far back as I can remember I have struggled in school in the area of reading. When I was very young, in about second grade, I went to a special reading class to help me learn the basic skills needed. I continued to struggle throughout my educational career with decoding and comprehension. When I entered high school I was diagnosed with Dyslexia. I remember it taking me twice as long to work on assignments as my friends would. I always wanted to be a teacher when I grew up and I was determined not to let this stop me from reaching my goals. In 2008 I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree and certifications to teach regular and special education.
In 2009 I became a special education preschool teacher. Since I always had a dream of getting my Master’s degree, I enrolled in NC State’s K-12 Reading program. It was a big decision for me to choose to pursue an area that had always been a challenge for me, but I knew there were many children struggling. I wanted so badly to help alleviate some of my future student’s worries with reading. I was also hoping that enrolling in this program would help me learn some skills to conquer my deficits along the way.
Considering my interest in struggling readers, my question is: How do I help struggling readers become proficient readers? Throughout this Weebly, you will encounter the answer to this question, which involves (a) using technology to engage students, (b) assessing students' strengths and weaknesses with reading, and (c) providing direct instruction that addresses students' individual weaknesses with reading.