I am glad you made a comment about how people benefit from reading material that is "above" their reading level; indeed, we can discover that someone's reading level is above what we "know" it to be when we give them a chance to do more.--Trefethen S.
Your comment about getting lots of different things for students to read is a great reference to the Gallagher text. I also agree that reading "above level" is valuable.
You make an excellent point about the value of giving students the opportunity to read a variety of texts at a variety of levels. This is so important. I am seeing this with my own seven-year-old daughter. At different times she wants to try and read to us the easy reader books. At other times, she wants to try books that are a little more difficult. Most of the time she wants us to read to her--books at all sorts of levels. It is obvious that she wants to relax and just enjoy being read to and the relaxing experience that goes along with that, and at other times she wants to be independent and accomplish the task of doing the reading herself. Also, your point about the frustration of not being able to read b/c you could decipher the Japanese symbols was a good one. We do need to challenge readers with a range of texts, but we don't want to exceed their ability and frustrate them so much that they want to quit. You stuck with it and sought out resources because you are an empowered learner. Most children in this position will just give up. This is definitely what we want to avoid as reading teachers.
I agree with what you said about reading above your level. I think that some students need to be pushed a little because they won't push themselves. It is a gray area though because you don't want to push too hard and turn them away. I do feel strongly that some students will not realize they can do better than they are right now and throwing a challenge their way can give them a real boost of confidence if they succeed. If not it can be a confidence killer. I deal with it all the time as a coach, but it is different in a sport because we cut players so the kids who fail those tests repeatedly will most likely be cut eventually or cut themselves by not returning the next year.
I am glad you made a comment about how people benefit from reading material that is "above" their reading level; indeed, we can discover that someone's reading level is above what we "know" it to be when we give them a chance to do more.--Trefethen S.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about getting lots of different things for students to read is a great reference to the Gallagher text. I also agree that reading "above level" is valuable.
ReplyDeleteYou make an excellent point about the value of giving students the opportunity to read a variety of texts at a variety of levels. This is so important. I am seeing this with my own seven-year-old daughter. At different times she wants to try and read to us the easy reader books. At other times, she wants to try books that are a little more difficult. Most of the time she wants us to read to her--books at all sorts of levels. It is obvious that she wants to relax and just enjoy being read to and the relaxing experience that goes along with that, and at other times she wants to be independent and accomplish the task of doing the reading herself.
ReplyDeleteAlso, your point about the frustration of not being able to read b/c you could decipher the Japanese symbols was a good one. We do need to challenge readers with a range of texts, but we don't want to exceed their ability and frustrate them so much that they want to quit. You stuck with it and sought out resources because you are an empowered learner. Most children in this position will just give up. This is definitely what we want to avoid as reading teachers.
I agree with what you said about reading above your level. I think that some students need to be pushed a little because they won't push themselves. It is a gray area though because you don't want to push too hard and turn them away. I do feel strongly that some students will not realize they can do better than they are right now and throwing a challenge their way can give them a real boost of confidence if they succeed. If not it can be a confidence killer. I deal with it all the time as a coach, but it is different in a sport because we cut players so the kids who fail those tests repeatedly will most likely be cut eventually or cut themselves by not returning the next year.
ReplyDelete