Reading is absolutely crucial in developing language. I will integrate reading into my classroom as much as possible. No matter what age I teach, this choice will remain. Reading can always improve, and practice makes perfect.
Well, Philip...you'll get no argument from me regarding the crucial role that reading plays in every grade, every content area! No matter what grade you teach, consider how reading is going to be most impactful for students' overall learning and pleasure when you focus on it being an interactive process - it's transactive - the reading imbues meaning into the text and derives meaning from the text. What instructional strategies can you use that will work to teach students how to understand complex text? How can you increase students' outside reading time? What role does parent engagement have with this goal?
What instructional strategies can I use to teach students how to understand complex text? Well, I really believe that this is an input plus one scenario. Engaged learners need to constantly be pushed beyond their comfort zone. I teach reading in an intense intervention setting, and that is the overarching approach. When a first grader begins reading at his / her level, we up the ante to second grade work. The only real difficulty with doing that is that there becomes a real need to review vocabulary. And that is solved with a quick vocab check.
How can I increase students' outside reading time? I make everything into a game and a contest. If you make reading fun (game/contest), then the work is done for you. These games and contests can be small or large; the teacher's imagination is the only limitation.
What role does parent engagement have with this goal? Honestly, I don't see it being very important with most students at the point of instruction. The work of the parent should have already been established before the student gets to me. So many of the issues that I see (and it's rare - usually the kids are great) seems to arise from bad parenting. Yes, I'm one of those. Students that understand the need for hard work are easier to motivate. This is my opinion as a novice teacher, and it could always change. I don't know.
Well, Philip...you'll get no argument from me regarding the crucial role that reading plays in every grade, every content area! No matter what grade you teach, consider how reading is going to be most impactful for students' overall learning and pleasure when you focus on it being an interactive process - it's transactive - the reading imbues meaning into the text and derives meaning from the text. What instructional strategies can you use that will work to teach students how to understand complex text? How can you increase students' outside reading time? What role does parent engagement have with this goal?
ReplyDeleteWhat instructional strategies can I use to teach students how to understand complex text? Well, I really believe that this is an input plus one scenario. Engaged learners need to constantly be pushed beyond their comfort zone. I teach reading in an intense intervention setting, and that is the overarching approach. When a first grader begins reading at his / her level, we up the ante to second grade work. The only real difficulty with doing that is that there becomes a real need to review vocabulary. And that is solved with a quick vocab check.
ReplyDeleteHow can I increase students' outside reading time? I make everything into a game and a contest. If you make reading fun (game/contest), then the work is done for you. These games and contests can be small or large; the teacher's imagination is the only limitation.
What role does parent engagement have with this goal? Honestly, I don't see it being very important with most students at the point of instruction. The work of the parent should have already been established before the student gets to me. So many of the issues that I see (and it's rare - usually the kids are great) seems to arise from bad parenting. Yes, I'm one of those. Students that understand the need for hard work are easier to motivate. This is my opinion as a novice teacher, and it could always change. I don't know.