Reading is such
a common daily occurrence for an individual to do, whether it is reading a text
message, the newspaper, an email, a recipe or even the nutrition facts on a
food label. Individuals are constantly reading, even if it’s not a textbook for
school or a novel. While an individual is reading all these things daily, it is
important for them to understand the information, and be able to process it.
Reading a recipe for example, an individual can read what they have to do but
will they understand what it means? That is the most important step to reading,
without understanding how can an individual proceed with the recipe and ensure
it will be edible?
The same applies
for students learning in school. The students are expected to read chapters of
assigned readings, or a novel for language class to prepare for tests or write
an essay. All of which cannot be achieved successfully unless the student
understands the information they are reading and can apply that knowledge.
Within the Ontario reading curriculum it focuses on teaching students to become
effective readers, that is to think clearly, creativity and critically about
the information in order to analyze, absorb and understand it. Reading not only
helps the students understand concepts better, but also helps with their
writing by developing a richer vocabulary, and their own writing style.
Some strategies
to help students actively analyze the text as they are reading it would be for
the teacher to have students think about the reading before, during and after
they have finished. Students can jot down their prior knowledge of the topic to
see how much they know. During the reading students can summarize, visualize,
predict, question, and identify main ideas.
After reading, students can analyze the text and their summaries,
evaluate, and use their critical thinking skills to gain a deeper understanding
of the text. Students can then reflect on what they know after reading the text
compared to how much they knew before they started.
Within the reading strand, there are four expectations that include:
1.
Read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary,
graphic, and informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct
meaning.
2.
Recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic
elements and demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning.
3.
Use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently.
4.
Reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for
improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and
after reading
I have also found a resource that provides 15 different apps to help improve reading comprehension that can be found at Teacher Thought. These apps are geared towards different grade levels and highlight a different component to reading such as critical thinking skills, reading speed, word and sentence fluency and recall.
Resources like these can help students that are struggling to read or help students excel, especially since they may find it more engaging! Teachers, students, and parents need to be aware of resources like these and take full advantage since blended learning is making it’s way into the classrooms. Reading is not boring, make sure to give students different choices so they are interested and become motivated to learn!
Kate Ter Haar. (February 1, 2013). The Love of Reading. (Flickr Image). Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2dXeMYf.
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