There are more reading strategies than there are hours in the school day. Some of the strategies are gems, but many of them may or may not bring the results you’re looking for.

Here are some reading strategies that, while not entirely horrible, are probably worth ditching in favor of trying something new.

1. Awarding prizes for reading

True, prizes can be motivating. However, prizes also program our brains to desire extrinsic rewards (such as a jolly rancher) rather than intrinsic rewards (enjoying reading for its own sake). Indeed, giving a prize for a task implies that the task must be somewhat unpleasant to warrant a reward. For students who already enjoy reading and intrinsically want to do it, giving a prize could actually reduce their intrinsic desire to read for enjoyment.

Instead of giving small, unrelated prizes for reading, offer a reading-related reward, such as a brand-new book. This provides the motivation that a reward can offer, but it also correlates the prize with the behavior teachers desire – reading.

2. Round-robin reading

While this strategy helps teachers monitor students to ensure everyone is following along, it is not the most effective way to boost reading skills and may actually induce anxiety and stress among students. (More info here: Why Round Robin Reading Is Harmful.) Students might look like they’re following along, but often they aren’t all that engaged in the text. Even under the closest supervision, many students do not read along or do not have the active reading skills to do so.

Instead, encourage oral reading in other formats. Although round-robin reading might be harmful, reading aloud remains an essential tool for improving reading skills. Choral reading is one way to accomplish that goal, because every student is reading every page. This also allows the teacher to model fluency. Reading to partners (or therapy dogs!) is another strategy that increases student engagement.

Here are some great read-aloud book lists for every level:

3. Guessing strategies

Guessing strategies are methods such as say the first sound, check the picture, or skip the word and come back to it later. The problem with these is that they can work with the original text they are practiced with, but it’s difficult for students to remember and apply them to a new text.

Instead, try decodable readers. These focus on specific phonics sounds that apply to numerous words so students can remember the phonics rules and use them in the many texts they read in the future.

4. Whole group instruction

Yes, there are times to teach the entire class a reading strategy or literacy concept all at the same time, but it’s not the most effective way to build skills if it’s the only method used.

Instead, have student learn to read in small groups. When students are grouped according to their reading level, they are exposed to texts that they can decode and understand. Small groups also give teachers time to focus on developing skills and addressing individual student needs.

5. Silent reading all the time

Like whole group instruction, there is a time and place for silent reading, but it shouldn’t be the only way students are exposed to reading.

Instead, read out loud to your students. This allows you to model fluency while teaching vocabulary that most students can’t read or understand on their own. Seeing teachers who love reading out loud also helps instill a love of reading in students.

You don’t have unlimited amounts of time to spend on reading. It’s essential to choose strategies that maximize your instruction time while also giving your students the best opportunities to become better and more confident readers. Give these a try and see what happens!

5 Reading Strategies to Retire This Year (and What to Try Instead!)