Final Personal ReadingTheory

Final Personal Reading Theory

 

          Learning to read is process, each skill builds upon another. As an early childhood teacher, I believe that learning to read to crucial to a child and their future. Throughout this course, my knowledge on reading theories, literacy programs, and reading techniques has developed tremendously. I am now more focused on my current beliefs, regarding reading and young children. I feel more knowledgably abbot what to look for within the students in my classroom. There were different terms and reading practices that I didn’t know about until this course. I have been a teacher for four years and have always felt confident in my teach abilities. After I completed the research and read the Weaver’s Reading Process and Practice, has given me a better understanding of effect reading and overall literacy teaching techniques.

Throughout the 6 weeks, I learned a lot, but the main thing I took away from this is the importance of comprehension in students. As teachers we need o focuses on students reading to attain meaning, rather than to decode every word. The importance on phonics within the classroom has changed my view. Phonics is very important in the classroom, but I feel that focusing on the individual sounds doesn’t help a child with comprehension.  This past year I used running records known as, Dibels. The running records focus on the number of miscues that students would make.  It didn’t help a student with comprehension level and it was a poor way to determine the fluency of students. We can integrate phonics instruction into whole group mini-lessons when referring back to a book that students are familiar with. Word patterns and sounds are easily spotted and exposed when students are familiar with and understand the reading. Phonics instruction is extremely helpful during individual reading and writing conferences. I am now reflecting and researching different ideas and ways that I can change that in my classroom. I feel that phonics should no longer be taught in isolation, but needs to be integrated into a literacy program.

This course taught me the importance or a literacy program. It showed me that keeping a literacy program in place will keep students learning and reading at their own pace. This year I was introduced to a new reading program that covered all the key essentials with reading. I was a little curious as to how this program truly helped the students. After reading Weaver’s point of view on literacy programs, it made me realize how important the literacy programs are. The C.A.F.E/ Daily 5 program keeps the classroom balanced. It keeps the students involved. They have to be readers of themselves. They need to set goals and know what is expected of them. I feel that reading the Weaver text truly gave me the drive to continue incorporating student choice within the classroom. I feel that the students to have choice so they can be confident within themselves.

Throughout this class it made me realize how important child involvement is, not only the student, but as a teacher. As a teacher it is important to do read aloud with the students. They enjoy hearing teachers reading and it create discussion in the classroom. It makes them feel involved, but also make those personal connections. It made me realize that kids need to be motivated. They need to feel involved and want to learn. Keeping the program changing every day, keeps the children focused. Conferencing with the students keep them focused on what they need to work on. I feel that it gives them a sense of leadership with reading. Giving the students a chance to be the leader and have control over their own reading goals gives them the confidences that they need to perform.

Throughout the past six weeks, I have learned that there are many theories that people believe is the “right” way. When teaching a classroom full of 24 third graders and trying to keep them on the correct reading level is challenging. There are many aspects of a comprehensive literacy program that I will use in my classroom. I plan to continue the C.A.F.E/ Daily 5 program in the classroom. I feel that I have gained much knowledge of the comprehensive literacy approach that will significantly enhance my own literacy instruction.