Reading

Introduction

Reading is and always has been a necessary and important skill for all students. To be an effective reader, one must not only grasp the ideas communicated in a text, but also be able to apply them in new contexts. It is the teachers and parents job to get children inspired and motivated to read. There are many methods and tools to get students involved in reading and reap the benefits of this important skill.

                                                

                                                  Dr. Seuss. (2017). Quotesta [Online Image] Retrieved from http://quotesta.com/reading-quotes-dr-seuss/

Reading Aloud

For many, reading starts first through listening. Whether it be a parent reading to their child every night before bed, or a teacher reading to the class, reading aloud holds a plethora of benefits for students. It can be a simple book, or a more complex novel, but the results of a read aloud are the same. The article Mind/Shift describes it as, “You have to hear it before you can speak it, and you have to speak it before you can read it. Reading at this level happens through the ear”. Modelling the pleasure of reading is the first step to get a student intrigued and motivated to read.

 

Sleeperific. (April 22, 2013). Reading Magic. [Online Image]. Retrieved from https://www.sleeperific.com/tag/benefits-of-reading-aloud-to-children/

Variety of Forms 

Each student is unique in the way that they learn and what gets them motivated to learn. As a teacher, you want to ensure that you are getting each student captivated in the work that they are doing so that reading is an enjoyable experience and not a chore. The first expectation for the reading strand states that students should be able to “read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, graphic and informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning” (Ontario Curriculum, Language. 11).  Each student is unique, such as is their learning styles and reading preferences. By incorporating multiple reading material and style options into a class will help ensure that all students interest and preferences are met. Providing more then one option can also pique student’s interests in other styles in which they might not have been exposed to before.

EarlyYearsResources. (2017). Reading Materials Poster. [Online Image] Retrieved from http://www.earlyyearsresources.co.uk/literacy-c17/reading-and-comprehension-c417/reading-materials-poster-p46171

Student Engagement 

Many students may get discouraged from reading because they don’t see the point to it. They may think, “This has nothing to do with me so why am I reading it?” As a teacher, it is your job to get students engaged in their readings. The video entitled "Signposts and Reading for Young Students" introduces the principles about effective practices for engaging students in literature. Teachers can engage students in multiple ways when it comes to reading. Asking questions to your students about the text is a hallmark of the meaning and making experience when it comes to literature. Questions are really important to ask in order to develop their understanding, making questions the heart of the literary experience. Students sharing their ideas allow others to see the same information from another point of view, one that they could agree with, or conflicts with their own. It sparks for conversation and gaining a deeper understanding of the text. Students may often become discouraged to share their points of view or opinions about a text in an oral class discussion if they are on the shyer side. In order to make these students feel more comfortable to share their opinions, teachers can use online apps to incorporate in class discussions of readings such as Lino or other similar concepts where students can share their thoughts and be engaged anonymously.  

Kalapaca, L. (2017). Pinterst. [Online Image] Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/413909021985228365/

Conclusion

Reading has been and always will be an important skill that students need to succeed. The way in which teachers facilitate the learning of reading needs to evolve with the students in their classroom. Multiple forms of reading material should be present for students to choose from that can allow for student learning in new subject areas, a continuation of learning through a subject the student is interested in and topics that students can relate to personally. The methods in which comprehension of student reading is conducted must also reflect the bevy of ways in which students learn. Teachers increasingly need to foster new and creative ways to get students involved in reading. Reading is seeing, and in the end, comprehending texts relies on the ability to create images, story worlds, and mental models while reading. A teacher’s job is to help students tap into their creative minds to help them visualize what they are reading. The ability to inquire about texts is also another factor that shows that students are taking responsibility for their learning to improve comprehension and look beyond the text. By incorporating technology options into reading, students are able to accomplish this in a way that makes sense to them.