Reading is one of the most important academic skills, because it is a requirement to be able to learn. The reading skills of Dutch students have worsened over the last years and the COVID- 19...Show moreReading is one of the most important academic skills, because it is a requirement to be able to learn. The reading skills of Dutch students have worsened over the last years and the COVID- 19 pandemic has had a negative influence on that. That is why it is important to help struggling readers. This study examined the effects of two intensive, individual reading interventions aimed at improving the reading skills of students with reading difficulties. The effects of the Universele Interventie voor Lezen, a structured online reading intervention, were compared to the RA, the control condition. Additionally, the effects of the interventions on reading enjoyment were examined. Two research questions were formulated. Firstly, "What are the relative effects of the Universele Interventie voor Lezen and Read-Along reading interventions on the reading performance of children with reading difficulties?" Secondly, "What are the relative effects of the Universele Interventie voor Lezen and Read-Along reading interventions on the reading enjoyment of children with reading difficulties?" The Universele Interventie voor Lezen is a structured intervention that uses explicit, direct instruction. The Read-Along intervention, on the other hand, is based on the idea that more reading is sufficient to improve the reading skills of struggling readers. During this study, both interventions were administered through online, individual meetings. The sample consisted of 29 struggling readers from fifth and sixth grade. A significant effect over time was found for reading performance, but not for intervention. No significant effect was found for reading enjoyment. These findings suggest that it can be beneficial to implement reading interventions such as the Universele Interventie voor Lezen and the Read-Along for struggling readers.Show less