Here are some fix-up strategies (adapted from Cameron, 2009) which you can teach students to use if they find something which they do not understand in a text they are reading:

• Identify exactly where the confusion began: can the student not read a particular word? Not understand what a particular sentence means? Not remember who a particular character is?

• Re-read the difficult word or sentence slowly.

• Try to identify any parts of the word that you know (e.g. prefix, suffix, root).

• Try to rephrase a difficult sentence in your own words.

• Look back or forward through the text for clues.

• Look at the pictures or any charts or diagrams for clues.

• Use the context to try to guess the meaning of the word or sentence.

• Read with a friend, take turns summarising what has happened so far every few pages.