Teaching Reading in Social Studies After reviewing approximately 115,000 experimental and quasi-experimental studies of reading research, the National Reading Panel, a Congressionally mandated independent group, concludes that the most effective way to teach students to read is through instruction that includes a combination of methods. The following conclusions from the panel's report are particularly useful for social studies teachers teaching students with reading difficulties. Guided oral reading enhances reading fluency, the ability to read with efficiency and ease. In guided oral reading, students read aloud to someone who corrects their mistakes and provides feedback. Specifically, the research indicates that guided oral reading helps students with word recognition, reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension.
Vocabulary development plays a major role in the reading comprehension process.
Vocabulary should be taught both directly, separate from the narrative or text, and indirectly, as words are encountered in context. Although there is no one best method for teaching vocabulary, studies found that repetition and multiple exposure to vocabulary words assist vocabulary development. Reading comprehension increases when teachers use a variety of techniques and systematic strategies to assist students in formulating and generating questions plus recalling and summarizing information. The National Reading Panel stresses the fact that strategies instruction is a vital part of teacher preparation.