This was a great chapter for me because I am always trying to figure out what I can do to make sure my kids are comprehending what they are reading. One thing it points out is that if they are reading independently they must be reading something they can read fluently or their focus will be on decoding and not comprehending. So many of my students want to get books that are above their level, so of course they struggle through it and when we conference they can't tell me a lot about what they read. It's hard because you want them to have choice, but you always want to nudge them in the right direction. I thought it was interesting how she pointed out that we spend so much time teaching strategies but don't give enough time for them to practice the strategies. They can tell you a lot of the strategies we teach them, but are they really using them? It requires a lot of time conferencing with and knowing our students. I think a good way to utilize your time she mentions is sharing with their peers. Students usually love to tell you what they are reading about. If they are talking with a partner about their book the teacher can walk around and listen in to hear. Plus they love to talk with classmates. Also it talked a lot about rereading. I think this is a strategy I have to reiterate a lot with my students because they tend to want to read through their books quickly and skip words. I know I was guilty of this as a reader when I was younger. I wanted to get to the next part so badly I would fly through the reading. While I don't want my kids to get hung up struggling through the words I want to make sure they are understanding what they are reading. I spent the past month reading aloud to my class Where The Red Fern Grows. It was one of my favorites growing up and realistically none of them would probably ever pick it out for themselves. I was thrilled and stunned at how much they loved it and how in tune they were with it. I had a student out last Friday when we finished the book, and as soon as he got back he had a classmate telling him every detail of what happened. I was also pleasantly surprised when I assessed them on it that almost every kid made an A. They were able to enjoy the story but also comprehend and make connections in their own lives.
Jenny Blanton
I love your thought about letting them talk to a partner and listening in to be sure that they can comprehend the text. Win-win. They get to talk and you get to assess their progress. I also love that you shared Where the Red Fern Grows, also a favorite. By sharing such a rich story, that as you said, many won't read, you have given them a wonderful gift-- a part of you. It isn't a surprise that they truly enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteYou raise a good question: "They can tell you a lot of the strategies we teach them, but are they really using them?" There is a big difference between recitation and application--you hit the nail on the head there!
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