Question: Next semester, my son has the option of taking one or more classes on the campus of the community college that he is attending, or he can take the same course online. He is enthusiastic about taking at least one course online, as he can take the course and do the assignments at his convenience. Is taking courses online a good idea for community college students?

– Uncertain

Answer: Your concern is real. Unfortunately, the data from several studies shows that community college students simply do not do as well in online courses as those they take in the classroom. In a recent University of California-Davis study of students at California community colleges, it was found that 11 percent of the students were less likely to finish or pass an online course. This was true no matter what subject the students were taking online. Community college students simply do better face to face with their teachers.

The major problem seems to be that community college students apparently find it hard to manage their time well enough to complete online courses. The story seems to be different for students at selective four-year colleges where the results are largely the same for both online and in-class experiences.

Question: When I hear my child in fifth grade read aloud, she hesitates a lot, backtracks and reads slowly. Fortunately, the teacher does not call on her often, so she is not embarrassed by her stumbling reading. Are there any easy ways to help her?

– Want to Help

Answer: Your child’s reading problem is one that the educators call "fluency." The National Reading Panel has defined fluency as "reading text with speed, accuracy and proper expression." A child who is a fluent reader can read most words automatically.

Fortunately, with your help and a lot of practice, your daughter should be able to become a fluent reader, unless she has a serious reading disability. She needs to learn how to phrase what she is reading correctly, to read at a conversational rate and to use the proper expression. According to Hasbrouck-Tindal’s Oral Reading Fluency Data, a reader in the fall who is in the 50th percentile of reading in fifth grade will read approximately 110 words per minute. The readers in the 90th percentile will read as many as 166 words per minute.

Here is a short list of things that you can do to help her. It will take time to see improvement. Daily practice is essential.

Read aloud every day to your child so she knows what good reading should sound like.

Read a paragraph several times and then have her read the passage as you make your way through a book.

Read aloud together. Sit closely together and read into her ear.

Have her read easy material that she can read quickly. Familiar nursery rhymes and stories are a good choice.

Visit DearTeacher.com, and you will find detailed explanations in Skill Builders/Reading of more ways to improve your child’s oral reading.

Send questions and comments to Dear Teacher, in care of this newspaper, 1 North Illinois Street No. 2004, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or log on to www.dearteacher.com, or email DearTeacher@DearTeacher.com.