Class Discussion:
The very beginning of class was interesting but also very overwhelming at the same time. This course is an elective for me in the Leadership program. I am very interested in and comfortable with technology but I know very little about literacy development. There are a number of people in this class who have an elementary background (that would include teaching the basics of reading) and there are also people who are involved with the Inclusive program so I feel a lot out of place. I guess the assumption is that everyone in this class has a background in language and brain development. I feel a lot like children with reading challenges who go through mentally challenging activities each day at school. I would like to consider myself a good learner so this isn't even close to what some students are going through.
Reading Process Presentation:
Writing was invented 5000 years ago and reading is not innate but learned. Language is innate.
Reading (oral) begins with (1) sounds, (2) meaning, and (3) structures.
There are 44 phonemes (sounds) in the English language.
Phonemic Awareness can be negatively influenced by the something as simple as growing up in a smoking household because it increases the chances of ear infections and being able to create sound awareness.
Attention is the gateway to memory and new learning requires selective attention!
There needs to be a commitment to short term memory and then the new information needs to be engraved into long term memory.
In terms of the reading process, attention to task (frontal lobe) is essential during every single step!
I'm going to need to look more into what compensatory strategies are so I can develop a list of apps that are useful for reluctant readers in middle school and high school. I'm looking forward to finding which apps are age appropriate. Are there any other middle school or high school teachers in this course? I think we should collaborate on this upcoming iTunesU course creation assignment. I know Read Iris and Tumble Readables were mentioned.
As a side note, I find the "Simple English" language feature on Wikipedia extremely useful! I will definitely be using this.
Don't worry Liz. I'll be demonstrating some compensatory strategy apps next class ahead of the assignment. Also...it is CRITICAL that leaders in the schools understand the power of Assistive Technology. We have a number of principals in the course ..I can connect you if you like. I've had many many many principals and VPs in my courses and it is so important for them to have an awareness of AT and support their school's students with disabilities effectively. Many don't have special ed backgrounds. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how you must have felt as I have been learning the concepts of reading for years and I still find it overwhelming. What helps is to network. If you find it challenging in your school, ask around to other teachers who might be able to give more insight.
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