DARE TO READ

A teacher-developed guide offers insights and exercises for those who struggle to read and seek to improve.

“Willingness to read is key,” according to McJacobs. Those who struggle with reading, who stumble on words, who are tripped up by phonetics, and who have been drilled with lessons about precision rather than comprehension often lack this willingness. These individuals likely want to read, but the impediments destroy the enthusiasm needed for them to try. The four components of the author’s “Read Through It Strategy” seek to rekindle that lost spark of excitement. They encourage readers to ignore “positive errors,” like mispronunciation, when general ideas are still comprehended; to be aware of “eyestops,” or the muscular movements of the eye when reading; to focus on “idea units,” or the images words and phrases conjure rather than their individual components; and, finally, to utilize “cycle reading” to increase speed and skill. The last acknowledges reading as a skill and teaches the eye muscles to move fluently through simple exercises, meant to be done daily and presented with short, straightforward directions. The text offers tips about what kind of reading to select for practicing (usually middle-grade books) as well as ways to track progress. These are provided mostly as suggestions, as the book emphasizes personal control over practice to increase pleasure. McJacobs developed his strategy while working with students in alternative schools, noting that for many, avoiding reading came not from a lack of interest but rather from a natural frustration with the physical process. After looking critically at his own struggles to read and utilizing anecdotal evidence from his pupils, he created the “Read Through It Strategy.” Though no guarantees of success are supplied, these tips, tricks, and exercises focus on accessibility. The volume emphasizes regular, short practice over intensive study and distills its whole process into only nine pages, followed by thorough but simple outlines. Most of the guide’s ideas and foundation are presented in easy-to-digest terms and procedures. But some of the more complex aspects of fluency, particularly the work’s often repetitive but vague explanations of “idea units,” could be more streamlined for those not approaching the text from a teacher’s point of view.

This manual delivers valuable alternative strategies to improve reading skills, emphasizing enjoyment.