Neurological Impress Method
Neurological Impress Method (NIM) is a strategy used for students who are struggling with fluency. According to Jennings, Caldwell, & Lerner, 2010, “students learn by emulating a fluent reading model.” When using the NIM strategy, one student is paired up with the teacher. The teacher and student read together at the student’s independent reading level. Teachers can also use material that the student has read before. The teacher should make sure the book is of high interest of the student so they will be engaged the entire time they are reading.
When first starting out with this strategy, the teacher should read a little louder and faster than the student. Once the student seems to be gaining their confidence and fluency is improving, the teacher can start to read quieter and a little behind the student. If the student seems to be having trouble, the teacher should help the student in a firm matter (Jennings, Caldwell, Lerner, pp. 212). When first introducing this strategy with the student, the teacher will want to follow the text with their finger at the same pace that you are reading it. The student can take over this role when they feel comfortable doing so.
When first starting out with this strategy, the teacher should read a little louder and faster than the student. Once the student seems to be gaining their confidence and fluency is improving, the teacher can start to read quieter and a little behind the student. If the student seems to be having trouble, the teacher should help the student in a firm matter (Jennings, Caldwell, Lerner, pp. 212). When first introducing this strategy with the student, the teacher will want to follow the text with their finger at the same pace that you are reading it. The student can take over this role when they feel comfortable doing so.
NIM is a strategy that many teachers would use for literacy. The teacher gets to be one on one with the student reading with them to model how reading should sound. This will help the student gain fluency and confidence to be able to independently read. The teacher meets with the student for about 15 minutes at a time. Teachers can do this anywhere from 6-8 weeks depending on how many days the teacher is meeting with the student. The total time spent is around 7.5 hours.
The NIM strategy can be used in different content areas such as social studies or science. To modify this strategy, the teacher should pick different readings from the textbook that goes along with a specific content area. This way the student is still practicing the reading and gaining knowledge in that content area as well.
The NIM strategy can be used in different content areas such as social studies or science. To modify this strategy, the teacher should pick different readings from the textbook that goes along with a specific content area. This way the student is still practicing the reading and gaining knowledge in that content area as well.