Reading is the foundation for life in the United States as well as many other countries. A child is exposed to reading well before they even know what it is. When children come into school, their peers are at different stages of reading levels. Some can read small words where others don't even know letters. The Bell and Jarvis article explains a great way of how teachers should introduce reading within their classrooms. Students should feel that they can already read and will be able to progress in their level and enjoyment of reading. The article states that children should understand what they are reading, not just how to write and say the words. I think this is a very important message for teachers in that, there is no point for just being able to read without making sense of the material. Giving children examples of what they already know will boost their confidence and willingness to read more. Making reading fun and exciting is great,when including objects and colors in a good environment for education.
I think your point about making the students confident about their abilities to read is very true. The children are going to be much more excited and interested in learning to read if they feel like it is something they will be able to accomplish and be successful at. By showing the students that they do know words and are familiar with reading, they will feel confident and much more likely to become interested in reading and writing.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Bell and Jarvis bring up some important concepts about students' confidence. I think we forget, as teachers, that children need to feel confident about reading.
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