Educational Reading

Jun

Important Aspects of Literacy

June 29, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

The ability to use language to speak, listen, write, and read or the ability to read and write is the conventional definition of literacy. Literacy, in modern context, refers to writing, and reading at a particular level that is required for communication to take place or where a person is able to communicate and understand ideas according to their society.

Literacy involves continuous learning that can enable an individual to develop their potential and knowledge, achieve their goals, and participate to a greater degree in society. Studies have shown that learning to read at an early age can significantly increase a person literacy level and information at readin.org is a great resource that can explain method of how to help children learn to read.

According to the United Nations, in 1998, research showed that illiteracy rates included 20% of the worldwide population. This study indicated that this 20% were unable to write and read a simple sentence in any language. When a person is taught literacy this include them having various sub-skills such as vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, decoding, and phonological awareness.

When a student masters these sub-skills they can become proficient readers and as stated earlier, reading can increase a person’s literacy level. However, reading does not come naturally; the human brain is designed for the spoken language but is not designed to process the written language. For reading to take place, a code that maps human speech sounds into written symbols must be mastered. It takes someone who is trained in this specific area to make this code easier to understand.

Jun

Ways to Make Reading Fun for Children

June 12, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

typical German Sockpuppets schmoozing at Colog...

Image via Wikipedia

You can make reading a fun experience for children by using a number of great techniques such as doing a reader’s theater activity, through play, making art projects about books, allowing the students to select their own books, using puppets and more. Using a technique such as play is a great tool for helping a child to love reading because play is an essential part of there developing life. Play is an effective method and can help improve a child’s intellect. This strategy helps increase the child’s focus and attention span during the reading activity.

Using play as a reading technique also allows them to easily grasp the information or recognize things better than just reading stories to them. This method and others such as some found at readin.org can provide a significant amount of excitement to the student and make reading enjoyable and fun for them.

Some research states that using puppets as a method for stimulating a child’s mind in learning is very effective because it makes learning fun and entertaining. Studies also show that using puppets to help a child read can increase their socialization and communication skills. With this method the children become interested and interact to a greater degree with the reader because a conversational puppet is being used in the story telling. All throughout the activity the students can absorb and grasp the information.

You can also read to children using costumes and role play. Role playing with the use of costumes is a method that can make reading both exciting and fun. This method can improve a child’s communication and socialization skills.

Jun

The Importance of Early Reading Intervention Programs

June 2, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

Teachers can initiate a early reading intervention programs for student of recognize whether a child may have developmental delays or disabilities. When using reading interventions, teachers are able to address the needs of students when they learn to read rather than waiting until they reach upper grades and have difficulty in their academics.

Many helpful tips found at readin.org show the importance of reading early and methods to get children to enjoy reading. The importance of an early reading intervention is to help children develop into proficient readers when this method is used with methods to reinforce the skills of the child. These interventions are very effective in that the students are provided with the help in areas they may have difficulty in.

The focus of early interventions in reading is to address specific skills. Teachers use these reading interventions to phoneme segmentation abilities, sound fluency, and improve alphabet recognition. When a student is shown to master these skills, teachers may focus more on reading comprehension and fluency. The majority of early reading intervention programs feature materials and an activity in order to complete a certain goal and are typically conducted in small group with no more than 3 students.

Some benefits of early reading intervention programs is that it helps students become skilled in areas that are necessary for becoming successful readers. Studies have revealed that a child who is not reading well by the time they are ending their first grade year, they continue to have difficulties in academics all through elementary school and in subsequent years

Mar

Four Methods of Forging Reading in Young Students

March 28, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

There are dozens of ways to teach a child how to read. The methods for teaching vary depending on the age of the child and often must factor learning disabilities into the equation. This article will detail four fundamental strategies for teaching reading. Although they are four separate methods, they are best utilized together.

The phonics approach: This method relies heavily on the student learning and mastering the alphabet. Once the student learns the letters, he will learn the sounds associated with those letters, and he eventually will learn the words and sentences that are made up of those sounds. This method works only if the instructor starts small and builds upon a base of knowledge.
The identify and sound out approach: Also known as the “look and say” method, this way of teaching reading asks the student to identify words or sentences as a whole instead of the sounds that make up those words and sentences. This approach works well using flashcards with both pictures and words on them.
The drawing story approach: Have the student draw a picture of something simple, such as a dog drinking water. As the teacher, write a sentence that describes the scene beneath it. Create an entire story this way, and then have the student tell the story.
The interesting material approach: This approach is important to utilize in all methods of teaching reading. Students are more likely to read books and materials that speak to their individual interests.

Mar

Encourage Your Toddler to Start (and Love) Reading

March 20, 2011 By admin 6 Comments

Parents worry endlessly about how early in development their children should be reading. It has become a competition among parents: “My daughter is only 2 and she’s reading” or “My son has already begun reading chapter books!” While these feats are surely commendable, it isn’t always healthy to place the emphasis on one-upping other children. With that being said, encouraging children to start reading will help them in the long run. The following list describes a number of methods for coaxing your child into being interested in reading early.

Read books out loud often to your toddler. The more your child sees you reading books and feels your engagement, the more interested he will become. Even if he cannot understand everything you’re saying when you read aloud to him, the noises and words are stimulating his brain and allowing him to form his ability to speak.
Have books available to your toddler. You fill your child’s room with countless toys; why not fill his room with books? If they become a part of his surroundings, he will be more likely to pick them up out of curiosity. It’s hard to inculcate a love of books if they aren’t even around. Explain to him that books are special and show him how to use them, even if he can’t yet read.
Involve your toddler in the reading process. This could simply entail letting him turn the page of the book or ask him to point out certain images on the page.

Mar

Three Tips for Turning Reading into Recreation for Children

March 16, 2011 By admin 6 Comments

Children know they’re supposed to read. Parents and teachers know that children who read — and read often — are much more likely to do well in school. For many children, though, reading is just a bore. Especially in these modern times with the Internet and television competing for their attention, children see reading as a less-than-fun activity. Fortunately, you can change that by making reading an enjoyable activity. The following list explains several ways parents can turn reading time into fun time.

Take turns reading out loud. You can split up sentences, paragraphs or pages — it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are involving yourself in the reading. It will motivate the child to please you and excite them when it’s his or her turn. Utilizing the “popcorn” method can make this strategy even more fun by making it more spontaneous.
Help the child create a reading nook. Let him or her decorate an area of the house where reading can be done peacefully and pleasurably. Design the corner so that it appeals to the child’s interests, and call it something special.
Make a library trip. Set out a day every week or every other week to take your child to the library. Allow him or her to pick out any book he or she wants. Reading material that is interesting will make the child look forward to the activity. And seeing a parent checking out books too will encourage him or her to follow suit.

Mar

Common Core State Standards Provides Pre-Reading Guidelines

March 9, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

The debate about when and how to teach children to read often focuses on the skills involved in reading itself. However, establishing pre-reading skills is equally or even more important. Pre-reading skills mean starting early in a child’s life by introducing him or her to books and basic skills that pave the way for increased literacy. The Common Core State Standards Initiative provides ten pre-reading standards that kindergarteners should master in order to prepare them for first-grade reading. Parents and teachers can use the standards as part of making reading fun when sharing books with young children.

Since kindergarteners usually do not read fluently, many skills require teachers or parents to give prompts and support. For instance, prompting children to point out key details in a text, such as the story’s plot, major characters, and settings prepares them to navigate more difficult texts. Young children should also be able to say who wrote a story and who illustrated it, as well as what the relationship is between the text and the pictures. One way to help children build this skill is to read the text, then ask them to point out the parts of the picture that show the story happening.

Kindergarten-age readers are just starting to collect a vocabulary, so stories may have many words they don’t know. Another important pre-reading skill offered by the Common Core Standards is the ability to point out words the reader doesn’t know and ask what they mean. Often, kindergarten-aged readers can do this without prompting, especially if they are used to asking what words or symbols mean when they hear conversations or see them in their everyday lives. Finally, children should be able to compare and contrast stories, even if they cannot read themselves. With teacher or parent support, kids can develop strong pre-literacy skills that will serve them well as they learn to read.

Feb

How Illiteracy Affects Women in Developing Countries

February 23, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

In highly developed nations, the ability to read and write is considered the norm. Laws exist for providing education to children. In many developing countries, the problem of illiteracy is widespread. Women make up the segment of the population that suffers most from this problem. Because women are the first educators of their children and spend immense time with them in the early years, educating women will result in significant advances for future generations.

How Women are Affected by Illiteracy

Studies in developing countries show that when a woman does not know how to read and write, her longevity is heavily impacted. Illiterate women live shorter lives than those who can read and write. This is in large part because the inability to read and access information is extremely limited. A woman who cannot read will often rely on others to read and explain information to her. Or, she may not make an effort to seek out information knowing that she is burdening others in doing so. A literate woman can find information everywhere, at the library, on the internet, in bookstores and on the book shelves of friends and family.

Findings About Women Who Cannot Read or Write

The majority of the world’s illiterate population are women. When a woman can read and write, she tends to have children later in life and also has fewer numbers of children. Illiterate women are known to start having kids at an early age. It is also common for this population to have more than six children. Additional observations about illiterate women are that they themselves and their children suffer from greater health issues. They are less likely to seek out health care guidance. Their babies are more likely to die at birth or at a young age. The attention they give to eating healthy diets and choosing more nutritious foods for themselves and for their children is much less when compared to a literate woman.

Creating greater access to education for individuals all over the globe will empower a future generation that is better equipped for the challenges of life.

Feb

Life Challenges Posed by Adult Illiteracy

February 16, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

Globally, there are about one billion adults who are lacking in basic literacy skills. This is considered about one-fourth of the world’s population. If you look only at countries that are least developed, the overall rate of illiteracy is nearly 50%. Moreover, the majority of those lacking in literacy are women. Adult illiteracy is not highly visible or prevalent in developed countries, but it does exist. The challenges it poses for an adult’s quality of life are immense.

The Impact of Adult Illiteracy on Quality of Life

When an adult does not know how to read or write, he has a harder time living a full and enriched life. The ability to read is necessary for many everyday tasks. Being able to read the instructions on a bottle of medicine is one example. Understanding important legal documents before signing them is another need. Important notifications from transportation authorities, landlords and health insurance providers are just a few other examples where the ability to read is important for adults. Adults who cannot read are often dependent on others to carry out specific everyday tasks, as well as in dealing with emergencies and unexpected events.

Adult Illiteracy and Income Potential

In a society where employees are expected to be able to read job ads, employer contracts, intercompany memos and work-related emails, the ability to read and write are a given. When adults cannot do these simple tasks, their opportunities are extremely limited. An adult may be perfectly intelligent but without access to educational opportunities, his income potential will be limited. He will then be relegated to performing jobs that do not fully utilize his mental capacities.

Clearly, teaching adults how to read and write will improve their life opportunities. It will allow them to contribute to society in meaningful ways and enable them to enjoy a greater quality of life.

Feb

How Community-Based Organizations Can Remedy Adult Illiteracy

February 10, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

The implications of illiteracy are far reaching in the lives of adults who cannot read and are lacking in basic academic skills. Community-based organizations can potentially present a solution for this debilitating problem. By virtue of their all-embracing dynamic, non-profit organizations in community settings can potentially create perfect environments for adults who want to improve their life opportunities.

Defining Community-Based Organizations

Any non-profit organization that serves a local community can be considered a community-based organization. A community room in a housing facility is one example. Gathering centers for cultural groups are another example. Recreation centers in city parks are also places where community members can gather. Some of these environments serve recreational purposes only. However, in situations where initiatives have been taken to provide enrichment programs for local community members, opportunities exist for addressing the problem of adult illiteracy.

The Advantage of Community-Based Organizations for the Adult Learner

Some adult learners may not possess reading skills, but they still hold down jobs. They may be employed in housecleaning activities, babysitting or other jobs requiring manual labor. The advantage of a community center that offers literacy classes for adults is the accessibility. An adult can walk or take a short drive to the center and squeeze in a class in between his other daily obligations. Additionally, such centers are generally more relaxed than formal academic environments. For adults who have been out of school for many years, the less formal atmosphere is less intimidating and more inviting.

Strategies for Improving Adult Literacy in Community Centers

Community centers can be staffed by caring volunteers who tutor adults on their free time. In more structured community centers, management can apply for grants and funding to provide educational tools and resources. Group classes can be organized to meet the needs of the general adult population. Flyers written in simple language can be posted about the classes in local grocery stores, libraries, coffee shops and other locations to spread the word.