THE DETOUR METHOD
a step-by step approach to remediating reading with large groups
STEP ONE: DIAGNOSE
One has to begin by knowing who is who. An evaluation of every child’s reading capacity should be done at the beginning, as a diagnostic test, so that re-mediation support can start straight away. The RNCS guidelines for assessment refer to diagnostic testing and baseline testing. One only needs to listen to a child read a few sentences to make an evaluation.
STEP TWO: ENGAGE
Dispel negative feelings and self-notions of stupidity, inadequacy, guilt, even self-disgust, etc. that have become entangled in not being able to read/being a weak reader. Build a classroom ethos of care for fellow learners and co-operation rather than competition.
We use the story of Anansi to “set up” this ethos, and demonstrate the link between feelings and cognition.
Engage excitement by using the oracy to literacy arc.
STEP THREE: TEACH THE TOOLS
Teach the SOUNDS
Teach HIGH-FREQUENCY words
Aural processing
Develop Automaticity
Take photographs
Increase vocabulary
Improve word recognition
STEP FOUR: OPEN UP CHANNELS
The Multiliteracies movement has used Howard Gardner’s theory of ‘multiple intelligences’ to show that there are many ways or modes for learning, not just the verbal one. It’s possible that learners who have lagged behind in literacy are precisely those who learn better through other channels, e.g. through movement, or sound, and or the pictorial, and these modes are often neglected in the mainstream classroom. By channeling learning or detouring through these neglected channels, one can often rescue learners who have fallen by the wayside.
STEP FIVE: USE MAXIMUM PRACTICE
Use reading methods that enhance maximum practice e.g.
Paired reading
Group-reading
Choral reading
STEP SIX: REPEAT READINGS
1. Pre-reading activities
Prepping the concepts so new words/concepts introduced in the text have already been encountered in discussion/poster work etc. Methods: flashcards / Bingo / playdough. Bear in mind that reading problems are sometimes language problems. In the pre-reading exercises, e.g.
2. Post-reading activities
sequencing
comprehension
cloze exercises
speed-reading
scanning to look for info
choral performance of texts