Capable Readers

One of the biggest factors to me as a future middle school teacher is to find topics of interest. I believe that if I provide several book choices and allow the students to decide which one to read, I am encouraging reading. I want my students to find a book interesting or exciting. I want my students to relate to the protagonist in the book in some way. The teacher needs to be a model reader. She should tell her students what she has been reading to show her love of reading.

Reading in class

There are several different ways to read. Independent reading is simply reading alone. The student would need to have a copy of the text to take home and read. There would also be time in the class dedicated to reading independently. One big drawback with this method of reading can come from a student who has difficulty in this particular language arts area. An even better way for reading comes from guided reading and buddy reading. Although I do not intend to use buddy reading in middle school, I can see the benefits in elementary classrooms. The children would be reading with a peer, but they need to understand that both of them get an opportunity to read. The guided reading method reminds me of literature circles. I really like this idea and had the chance to participate in one last semester. The biggest role the teacher plays would be assuring all group members participated. Reading aloud to students is a great way to start the day. I enjoy listening to Dr. Duncan read Sahara Special in our class. There is one issue with this technique though. Because I am not reading the book, I have a hard time remembering what was read in class. After all of this explanation, I believe the shared reading method may work best in the middle school classroom. I want to encourage all students to participate in some way. Yes, I would have more control over this process, but I want to maintain my students’ attention. I can read a little, and I can choose students in random to read a little out loud. This would help strengthen a student’s reading ability, but it could also evoke other peers to help each other with any difficulties. I see this as building a stronger relationship between the students.

Five Stages of the Reading Process

The five stages of the reading process:

1. Pre-reading is the time spent choosing topics for books. An example would be for the teacher to have some idea concerning each student’s interests. At this point, the class could discuss several possible book choices and pick the one they would most likely enjoy reading.

2. Reading involves exactly this: reading. Although this can be done through several different means, I like the shared reading and reading the text out loud.

3. Responding is getting the students’ reactions on what they are reading. During this process, students are asking questions, using a journal to show they understand what they are reading, and discussing the book with others in class.

4. Exploring is going a little deeper than responding. The students can take on different roles in a literature circle, or students can study the background of the author and discuss the relationship between the author‘s life with the text.

5. Applying is the last stage in the reading process. An example would be having the students create a pamphlet of the book they just read in order to entice other students to read the book.

Aesthetic & Efferent Reading

Aesthetic reading is reading for entertainment. Efferent reading is reading to learn. I usually prefer aesthetic reading. I LOVE to read. I enjoy getting wrapped up in a book with images flowing through my mind while the story unfolds on the pages. This kind of reading helps me escape to another place in another person’s eyes. While in school, I seem to employ more efferent reading, even though I do enjoy some of the information I am assigned to read.

The 6 Language Arts

I was really unaware that there was a list of different language arts. I grew up without understanding the four original modes were listening, talking, reading, and writing. Although my teachers did focus lessons on every one of these, I was ignorant to the fact there was a list teachers needed to follow. I was surprised to see the addition of viewing and visually representing to the list. I believe that these two are just as important in teaching language arts as the other four.
Yes, I believe that viewing and visually representing are essential to the list. I struggle with a learning disability, and I know that I am a visual learner. I believe it is very important to take into account all the students in your classroom. Sure, we are condoning the technological influences on children’s lives, but this is the changing world. Our children are growing up in a time when the computer, internet, etc. are main routes for research. I also believe all children should learn the skills necessary for researching using books and the library resources that are not digital.I believe that the students would gain a greater appreciation for others hard work that originally went into locating sources before technology was introduced.

As a young student, I always had difficulty in focusing on any of these 6 language arts. I believe that if the viewing and visually representing had been implemented when I was in school, I may have retained more information. The other four language arts have always been essential for every student. But there was little concern for differentiation in school until now.