I found the article to be very intriguing and informational as to why literacy instruction should be included and varied, in the way it is presented at all levels in elementary school and beyond. Growing up as a child, I was one that never really cared for reading. I would read only if it was required of me. I believe this was the result of my experiences in my elementary class setting. From grades k- 4 I attended a private school which was suppose to give me a great foundation, one that was supposedly better then what I would have received in a public school setting. I remember several of my teachers requiring us as students, to read in the infamous round robin reading style. I never really gain any incite from the text that was read but, I did however learn how count the amount of people ahead of me to know which paragraph I was expected to read. Because of this, I found reading boring and thought of it only as a tool to please my teacher and keep her from sending me to the office, because I was a bit disruptive.I think that many other students think of reading in the same way.
I believe that the article makes a very valid point in stating that literacy instruction should be included in the lower elementary grades. In this fast pace world that we're living in reading and comprehending what was read can make or break anyone young or old. Learning how to comprehend a text can make a world of difference for children if taught how to do so properly, at an early age. Students are placed under so many strains to pass tests that are presented to them. What many teachers fail to realize is that if a student doesn't have prior knowledge of how to read and comprehend what is place in front of them, than they may not understand how to properly convey their understanding.
In visiting schools and working with school age students, the only reading that I noticed being done was reading from a basal reader or a AR book. Most students don't read for understanding or enjoyment when reading these types of books because, they are reading them for memorization to pass a test. I believe that if a foundation is set in lower grades like the 1st to teach children how to read for enjoyment and comprehension then the transitions into to higher grades will be easier and will help to improve state test scores as well. Lower grade teacher mold students into the type of student that they will probably be in the future. Requiring teachers to teach students to comprehend different types of text and express them in different ways will make for better students when they reach the higher grades.
The article made me think of several intriguing questions. One being, Why is so much emphasis placed on using basal readers in the classroom, when many stories in them are above the students grade level? Two, Why is reading for comprehension not encouraged in all subject areas instead of just English and Language Arts? Three, Why are people just know speaking out about literacy instruction when the issues has been been around for some time?
Chiatne, you had some really good comments that I had not even thought about. You are so right about the push towards AR books and basal readers. The students have lost the real idea behind the AR books just because they want those points to get their prize. I have seen some just look at the pictures to gain a general idea to answer the questions and get their 100 without ever actually readind the book. Maybe if they added informational texts to AR, they would have to read and comprehend to answer the questions. That way they may actually learn something from it.
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