"Förstår du?" En studie av hur högstadieelever i läsförståelsesvårigheter och deras lärare upplever att extra anpassningar i undervisningen fungerar : "Do you understand?" - A study of how secondary students with reading comprehension difficulties and their teachers experience the work with additional adjustments in the classroom

This study aims to highlight the work with additional adjustments in the regular classroom setting for students with reading comprehension difficulties in grade eight in two Swedish secondary schools. We want to investigate teachers’ and students’ perspectives on what adjustments are made when texts are read and written instructions are given, how these adjustments work and whether advantageous or disadvantageous factors to the process can be identified. Methods used were digital questionnaires to the teachers and semi-structured interviews with eight students, four from each school. Student informants with reading comprehension difficulties were chosen according to the results from a standardised test performed right before the study. The study’s results show that many additional adjustments are made in the classrooms. However, most of them are made generally for all students, and not individually based on the specific needs of the students with reading comprehension difficulties. Teachers express that group size, lack of time, knowledge and support from special education teachers are crucial factors for succeeding with additional adjustments in the classroom, which is consistent with previous studies. Students point out the importance of an including classroom environment and express a wish for teachers communicating with them concerning their need of individual support in reading comprehension. Our study implicates that teachers of all subjects need further education about strategies and methods for supporting students with reading comprehension difficulties when working with texts and written instruction