The section of the reading where he talks about spelling and it unimportance in reading also caught my eye. It made think and rethink how I was taught and how schools are currently teaching reading. All the classrooms I have seen still teach spelling, why? Is it for learning the writing process then if not for the reading process? What do you think? - Jessie
Mike, when we moved to Australia, my middle son was just entering kindergarten and I was amazed by the way his teacher helped him read. She sat down with him, pointing at each word and read aloud with him, letting him have first stab at reading the words she thought he knew. It was such a revelation to me that instead of focusing on sight words or spelling of any kind, that he could "pick it up" by just having reading modeled. My eyes were opened, but it worked.
I agree that we should not be applying too much pressure in the beginning stages of students learning how to read. It should be an exciting time for students, not a time filled with anxiety and fear. I am also in agreement that grammar, punctuation, and spelling are not important factors in the beginning stages of learning how to read. In my opinion, those are things that are mastered as we advance in the process.
The section of the reading where he talks about spelling and it unimportance in reading also caught my eye. It made think and rethink how I was taught and how schools are currently teaching reading. All the classrooms I have seen still teach spelling, why? Is it for learning the writing process then if not for the reading process? What do you think?
ReplyDelete- Jessie
Mike, when we moved to Australia, my middle son was just entering kindergarten and I was amazed by the way his teacher helped him read. She sat down with him, pointing at each word and read aloud with him, letting him have first stab at reading the words she thought he knew. It was such a revelation to me that instead of focusing on sight words or spelling of any kind, that he could "pick it up" by just having reading modeled. My eyes were opened, but it worked.
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteI agree that we should not be applying too much pressure in the beginning stages of students learning how to read. It should be an exciting time for students, not a time filled with anxiety and fear. I am also in agreement that grammar, punctuation, and spelling are not important factors in the beginning stages of learning how to read. In my opinion, those are things that are mastered as we advance in the process.