Topics in Early Childhood Education

Friday, December 02, 2011

Joyful Reading

Reading has been on my mind a lot lately.  I was searching through research on how children learn to read and the best methods for teaching reading.  We know that the best methods don't work with every child and that some questionable methods seem to work with some children.  I was challenging my reading class to make sure they always use multiple methods to reach children who are struggling with the reading process.  One thing research clearly indicates is that it is the attitude of the teacher that is the number one factor in reading success in a classroom.
It is often difficult to help a struggling child keep a positive attitude about reading.  For many children it becomes a daunting and impossible task.  It is up to the adult working with the child to do everything possible to instill in the child a desire to be successfull and a feeling that she can become a reader.  That is a challenge for us all.  How do we help the child become excited about something that  she feels unsuccessful doing?  I think that tracking (grouping children by ability) is one of the mistakes teachers often make.  Reading researchers indicate that tracking is one of the worst things that can be done for a child on or below reading level.  She has no models for success and she may mentally label herself as "dumb."  Those are hard issues to overcome.  Mixed level groups and activities seem to be the most successful for struggling readers.  I had a lot of success in my own classroom with mixed groups.  It was a beginning step to instilling that desire to read in a child who originally had that excitement when she started school.

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11 Comments:

At 5:29 PM, Anonymous Kathy N said...

Funny, how I come across the post today of all days. I am a paraprofessional (and also an ECE student) and have just recently been reassigned to a new classroom (1st grade). In working out my tasks, I was asked to start having students read to me during small group reading time. There is one particular girl who the teacher has said seems to have gone backward since the beginning of the year. She is receiving intervention services also. I sat with her today and she was sooo excited and happy to be reading with me. She asked if the interventionist was going to be coming and if she would ever stop. I told her of course she would be coming and she would be there every day. She seemed disappointed by this statement. Her attitude completely changed when the time came for her to work with the interventionist. I was even asked, after their session how things went and about her abilities. I completely AGREE with the research in this case. Attitude of the teacher is SO important.
I would love to hear more about mixed level reading groups. This district uses small group instruction for reading and groups are determined and based on like ability. How do you design your lessons for such different ability levels so as to meet everyone's needs? This is so very interesting to me, I have no experience with this, please tell me more!

 
At 5:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Reading your blog made me realize how early childhood professionals need to really be on their toes when it comes to children and teaching. I don't work with children yet, but I'm planning to open my own daycare one day. I sometimes fear that I won't meet the needs of my children that will be in my care. I don't refer to myself as a teacher but an early child hood professional. Therefore, as an early childhood professional I will have to have an postive attitude when I work wih children. If I have a bad attitude then those feelings will rub off on my children.

 
At 5:50 PM, Anonymous Ashley B. said...

Reading your blog made me realize how early childhood professionals need to really be on their toes when it comes to children and teaching. I don't work with children yet, but I'm planning to open my own daycare one day. I sometimes fear that I won't meet the needs of my children that will be in my care. I don't refer to myself as a teacher but an early child hood professional. Therefore, as an early childhood professional I will have to have an postive attitude when I work wih children. If I have a bad attitude then those feelings will rub off on my children.

 
At 7:16 PM, Anonymous geraldine Jones said...

Hello Friend;
I enjoy reading the joy of reading, I work at Calhoun elementary Preschool For All I read every day to children between the ages of 3-5 years old. I recall that you ask a question about how to motivate a child to get encourage in reading is one must have humor and do dramalization to the words as you read them to the children. Learn to ask open and ended question about the story.

 
At 4:03 PM, Blogger Johnson Family said...

I just found your blog today and I've been trying to read as many posts as I can! I just graduated from college last year. I live in a small town that is not hiring at them moment so I started my own preschool. I've been doing a weekly letter, but also trying to practice all the letters as much as I can. I don't feel like I'm doing a very good job. Some of the kids are learning really good and some of them aren't! I'm doing everything just from the few ideas I find on the internet. I was wondering if you had any good ideas on where I can find some sort of order in which I should teach things. I don't really have a curriculum. I guess I'm just asking for some help! I want my kids to learn as much as I can possibly teach them! I've loved your blog! Thanks for your help!

 
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At 6:02 PM, Anonymous Jennine B. said...

I think having mixed level reading groups can provide valuable benefits to young readers because a struggling reader can get help from a stronger reader in order to overcome reading challenges.

 
At 10:55 PM, Anonymous Enrichment Class for Kids said...

Fully agree on what is written and researched upon here. Child needs to be encouraged and be given good influence by the adults.

And methods to do just that might differ for all the children but for 1 common purpose, perhaps someone could come up with a great method to deal with those children who just isn't that interested in reading.

 
At 1:45 AM, Anonymous Term papers said...

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At 9:48 PM, Anonymous Celine said...


Thanks for this post. I know it is really frustrating to teach kids how to read especially if they think that they could not do it or are not interested. I believe that parents/ adults are responsible for inspiring and encouraging them By being a good reading role model. Make sure your child sees you reading often, even if it’s a magazine or newspaper.

 
At 8:37 PM, Anonymous Model Kebaya Lengan Pendek Modern 2015 said...

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