What Is Simile
A simile is a direct comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as." Examples include "her voice was like honey" or "brave as a lion." Unlike a metaphor, which states that something IS something else, a simile explicitly uses "like" or "as" to signal the comparison to the reader.
Why Similes Matter for Struggling Readers
Similes appear in roughly 60-70% of elementary and middle-grade fiction, making them unavoidable in reading instruction. For struggling readers, particularly those with dyslexia or processing difficulties, similes can create a comprehension bottleneck if left unaddressed. Many students decode the words correctly but miss the intended meaning because they interpret the comparison literally.
When a student with dyslexia reads "the field was a sea of wildflowers," they may focus on the phonetic decoding task and skip over the comparison entirely. Teaching simile explicitly helps students recognize that these phrases carry figurative meaning, which is essential for moving beyond basic decoding to actual comprehension. This skill bridges the gap between word-level reading and passage-level understanding, directly supporting IEP reading comprehension goals.
How to Teach Similes Effectively
- Use concrete, sensory language: Start with familiar comparisons tied to student experiences. "The blanket is soft like a puppy" works better than abstract comparisons for early readers.
- Separate "like" from "as...as" patterns: Teach these as two distinct structures. Students often confuse "like" (informal comparison) with "as...as" (formal comparison), especially those following Orton-Gillingham phonics programs where pattern recognition is central.
- Anchor similes to phonics instruction: When teaching consonant blends or vowel patterns, use decodable similes. This reinforces both phonetic skills and figurative language simultaneously.
- Build from simple to complex: Start with one-word comparisons ("hard as rock") before advancing to longer similes found in chapter books.
- Use visual supports: Draw pictures of both objects being compared. This helps students with processing disorders see why the comparison makes sense.
Similes Across Reading Levels
Reading level frameworks like Fountas and Pinnell show that simile instruction follows a progression. In Guided Reading Levels A-C (ages 4-5), similes rarely appear. By levels D-J (ages 5-7), simple similes with "like" emerge ("busy like a bee"). By levels K-P (ages 7-9), similes become more varied and less obvious, requiring active comprehension monitoring. By levels Q and above, similes appear in more complex texts where the comparison may span multiple sentences.
Students on IEPs targeting reading comprehension should have simile recognition explicitly listed as a skill to monitor, typically beginning around Guided Reading Level J.
Common Questions
- How do I know if a student understands a simile or just decoded the words? Ask them to explain what two things are being compared and why they're similar. A student who merely decoded might say "it says 'like a butterfly'" but can't explain what characteristic is shared. A student who understands will say something like "they both move gracefully" or "they're both delicate."
- Should I teach similes separately from metaphors? Yes, initially. Similes have an explicit signal word ("like" or "as"), while metaphors don't. Once students master similes, the transition to metaphors becomes clearer because they already understand the comparison concept. Introduce them sequentially, not simultaneously, for readers with dyslexia or processing difficulties.
- My student with dyslexia struggles with all figurative language. What's the best starting point? Start with similes, not metaphors or idioms. The signal words "like" and "as" make the comparison obvious, reducing cognitive load during decoding. Once they master simile recognition, abstract comparisons become more accessible.
Related Concepts
Metaphor shares the comparison function of simile but removes the signal words, making it more challenging for emerging readers. Figurative Language encompasses all non-literal language, including similes, metaphors, personification, and idioms. Analogy extends comparison logic to show relationships between pairs of words or concepts, often appearing in standardized testing.