Understanding Text Type by Using Reading Comprehension Skills There are many different styles of reading for different situations. The techniques that people choose depend on the purpose of reading. For example, people might be reading for enjoyment, information or to complete a task. Therefore, they need to adjust their reading speed and technique for those purposes. Low reading achievement is a genuine and consequential problem for many middle and high school students.
A successful teacher of beginning readers develop comprehension skills and helps to expose them to wide range of texts to build background knowledge. (Professional Development) In teaching reading a teacher must also teach many skills from decoding to vocabulary. Most importantly, a good reading teacher generates excitement and appreciation for reading. Learning to read is a hierarchical process, each skill building upon another. For example, learning to decode followed by fluency is the first step followed by independent reading, reading with absorption, and ending with critical reading.
“The disconnect between text and reader is especially noticeable in content areas where readers must interact with highly specialized and technical language” (Vacca & Vacca, 2008, p. 348). For students to find success in a content area classroom, educators need to engage students in reading with the use of instructional strategies (Vacca & Vacca, 2008). Strategies used in content area classrooms vary with purpose. “What a teacher does before reading, during reading, and after reading (B-D-A) is crucial to active and purposeful reading” (Vacca & Vacca, 2008, p. 346). Before reading activities help students get ready to read by motivating the readers, activating prior knowledge, and introducing key vocabulary.
The teaching and learning of writing should link theory and classroom practice. Explain why writing is important, and how to teach it effectively. Teaching the art of writing is one of the most important life-long skills teachers can communicate to their students. Writing is a complicated task that involves the use and coordination of many cognitive processes. Owing to its complexities, many students find writing challenging and many teachers struggle to find methods to effectively teach the skill.
Running head: COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES ESSAY Comprehension Strategies Essay Grand Canyon University: EED 475 January 20, 2013 Comprehension Strategies Essay Comprehension is one of the biggest areas in reading that many have struggles. It is often found that students have the ability to read a given text, however, they are reading without the basis of understanding what they actually read. In essence, students are reading without a purpose. In an effort to help students build upon their comprehension skills, teachers should develop strategic activities that facilitate comprehension of narrative, expository and poetic texts. Strategic activities may include presentation of the text, vocabulary development, using graphic organizers, and/ or previewing the text.
In reading, the communication is accomplished with strong comprehension skills that involve active participation of the reader as he interacts with the author to create meaning for himself. In writing, the communication happens when the writer clearly presents his thoughts and ideas to the reader. Furthermore, I believe that Tier II literacy instruction needs to be centered on the individual needs of the students who need this extra attention. I believe that it is most important for the teacher to have keen observation and assessment skills. This is so the teacher can identify and then teach in what Vygotsky calls The Zone of Proximal Development.
These skills basically deal with the process of taking in new information, organizing the information and assessing it for future endeavors. These skills will include effective listening, concentrating and reading while retaining the information well as efficient note taking. The main reason for note taking is to keep records of what's been learned and to help you out when you need a refreshment. The notes should be clear to the reading. Some of the reasons people take notes are to be able to hear while learning learning.
Reading is a complex task. It involves decoding the pronunciation of words as well as determining their meaning. When students are first learning to decode words, it is a demanding cognitive task. Sight words are words that are recognized, read and understood immediately. When readers have a strong sight word vocabulary, reading becomes a simpler task because they read many of the words with automaticity.
Studying literature in high school is an essential part in becoming a better human being. Benjamin Franklin was quoted: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Studying literature allows students to expand vocabulary and critical thinking. If a person is well read, it minimizes the chances of a prejudiced character. Reading a variety of books helps the young reader develop emotions, such as compassion. It is essential to review literature in high school as it has the potential to improve the performance of an individual.
The Advantages of Mind Mapping as Prewriting Activity to Increase Students’ Writing Skill Christina Ratna Hastuti 081214073 English Language Education Study Program Department of Language and Arts of Education Faculty of Teachers Training and Education Sanata Dharma University 2011 Abstract ESL students might get difficulty during writing lesson. They just keep writing without being aware to composition and organization of their topic. This paper is aimed to discuss the advantages of mind mapping as prewriting activity to increase students’ writing skill. The paper firstly reviews to related literature related to writing skill theory and the description of prewriting activity and mind mapping technique. As the findings, there are many advantages of mind mapping as prewriting activity.