Comments for Developing Literacy in MST http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:10 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on When should we teach our children to read? by Bill Simons http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/when-should-we-teach-our-children-to-read/#comment-1091 Bill Simons Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:10 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=210#comment-1091 Bill you make a good point. The results are pretty astonding. As with many sight words, many words can be just "learned". For many kids this presents a challenge, especially if they learn to read late. In his book How to Teach your Baby to Read, Doman references this point directly. Doman tells us not to worry about the alphabet. He says the 26 symbols which make up many more sounds will all be picked up as the child learns words. Nose is nose. There are no short vowel or long vowel sounds, no silent E to worry about, et cetera. Phonics are an excellent tool and should be part of any reading curicullum. With phonics alone however you can sometimes run into trouble where the kids can read and pronounce some amazing words but have trouble reading for any type of comprehension. One thing not mentioned in the original post is the emphasis that the book makes on the parent - child relationship. Parmount to the entire experience is that the the parent and child have fun with the activity. Reading is a game, something to get excited about and if the parent or parents involved are tired, preoccupied or just going through the motions, he suggests they simply wait until they can be all there. Another thing not mentioned was that on the 20/20 show also featured another of Domans books called How to Teach Your Baby Math. In it, children are taught quanity first, abstract symbols that represent quanity last. So three would acutually be * * * or three red stickers on a paper. Only later, after addition and subtraction have been introduced, are symbols like 3 introduced. The three year old students shown in clip could instantly recognize quanity from large posterboards randomly covered in red stickers with Rainman like accuracy. It was truly astonishing. The five year olds in the class would give answers to orally read number sentences immediately. What is 12 plus 6 minus 17 plus 5? Six, one quipped, immediately upon sentence end. But thats another story. Bill you make a good point. The results are pretty astonding. As with many sight words, many words can be just “learned”. For many kids this presents a challenge, especially if they learn to read late.

In his book How to Teach your Baby to Read, Doman references this point directly. Doman tells us not to worry about the alphabet. He says the 26 symbols which make up many more sounds will all be picked up as the child learns words. Nose is nose. There are no short vowel or long vowel sounds, no silent E to worry about, et cetera.

Phonics are an excellent tool and should be part of any reading curicullum. With phonics alone however you can sometimes run into trouble where the kids can read and pronounce some amazing words but have trouble reading for any type of comprehension.

One thing not mentioned in the original post is the emphasis that the book makes on the parent – child relationship. Parmount to the entire experience is that the the parent and child have fun with the activity. Reading is a game, something to get excited about and if the parent or parents involved are tired, preoccupied or just going through the motions, he suggests they simply wait until they can be all there.

Another thing not mentioned was that on the 20/20 show also featured another of Domans books called How to Teach Your Baby Math. In it, children are taught quanity first, abstract symbols that represent quanity last. So three would acutually be * * * or three red stickers on a paper. Only later, after addition and subtraction have been introduced, are symbols like 3 introduced.

The three year old students shown in clip could instantly recognize quanity from large posterboards randomly covered in red stickers with Rainman like accuracy. It was truly astonishing. The five year olds in the class would give answers to orally read number sentences immediately. What is 12 plus 6 minus 17 plus 5? Six, one quipped, immediately upon sentence end. But thats another story.

]]> Comment on When should we teach our children to read? by Bill Simons http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/when-should-we-teach-our-children-to-read/#comment-1090 Bill Simons Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:17:22 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=210#comment-1090 Russina you have a good point. Trying to teach an active 2 year old to sit still for flash cards can be a challenge. In the book I referenced earlier, How to Teach Your Baby To Read, the author, Glenn Doman addresses this point directly. Doman encourages parents to begin showing there children words within the first few months of life. Yes, start teaching them words at 2 months old. Children from the period of birth (and earlier for some researchers) are purely intellectual, soaking everthing up like a sponge. Relying on everyone else for transportation, they will take and examine any piece of information you give them tangible or intangible. Although they obviously cannot express themselves to acknowledge learning, they are in fact learning. They are learning language and everything that comes with it. Another important point Doman mentions is that you absolutely, positively have to make the activity fun and games. When I did this activity with my son, I made it fun with animated motions, expressions and enthusiasm. All I would have to do is ask him if he would like to do some words today and he would run off in glee to my office and return with the basket. An interesting thing I noted recently is how other forms of communication influence reading. On a short video on MSNBC.com two parents, both speech pathologists, began signing with their child at birth. She is also shown a childs video on signing which has words and letters. The results are nothing short of amazing. Check out this link: <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33506663#23557147" title="" rel="nofollow"> If that link did not post correctly try this instead. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33506663#23557147 Russina you have a good point. Trying to teach an active 2 year old to sit still for flash cards can be a challenge. In the book I referenced earlier, How to Teach Your Baby To Read, the author, Glenn Doman addresses this point directly. Doman encourages parents to begin showing there children words within the first few months of life. Yes, start teaching them words at 2 months old. Children from the period of birth (and earlier for some researchers) are purely intellectual, soaking everthing up like a sponge.

Relying on everyone else for transportation, they will take and examine any piece of information you give them tangible or intangible. Although they obviously cannot express themselves to acknowledge learning, they are in fact learning. They are learning language and everything that comes with it.

Another important point Doman mentions is that you absolutely, positively have to make the activity fun and games. When I did this activity with my son, I made it fun with animated motions, expressions and enthusiasm. All I would have to do is ask him if he would like to do some words today and he would run off in glee to my office and return with the basket.

An interesting thing I noted recently is how other forms of communication influence reading. On a short video on MSNBC.com two parents, both speech pathologists, began signing with their child at birth. She is also shown a childs video on signing which has words and letters. The results are nothing short of amazing. Check out this link:

If that link did not post correctly try this instead.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33506663#23557147

]]> Comment on I Wish I Knew More About… by Bill Simons http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/i-wish-i-knew-more-about/#comment-1081 Bill Simons Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:14:05 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=222#comment-1081 GMST 525 - Content Area Literacy This course was a real eye opener for me. Like Matt and Elyse mentioned earlier, my confidence in technology was misplaced as it proved to be a large obstacle to learning for me within the course. Posting blogs and leaving comments certainly has value but I leave this course specifically wanting to know more about which content area literacy strategies are the most powerful, what situations they are the best use in, and why. For myself, understanding specific concepts that outline the cause of the underlying problem provides a better foundation for understanding techniques for effective intervention then learning the techniques alone. I believe that every teacher should be a reading teacher, or at least capable of the process. I also feel that every teacher should be competent in the skill of providing the correct accomodations for each individual student. Realizing that this is a major undertaking for anyone, my objectives following this course are to: Learn more about the topics broached in class, which are the best suited for particular circumstances, and why... Work to become very proficient at masterfully delivering these intervention in varying situations... Continue to seek out new and developing strategies to aid in the development of literacy in my content area. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this class and would like to wish my classmates and instructors the best. GMST 525 – Content Area Literacy

This course was a real eye opener for me. Like Matt and Elyse mentioned earlier, my confidence in technology was misplaced as it proved to be a large obstacle to learning for me within the course.

Posting blogs and leaving comments certainly has value but I leave this course specifically wanting to know more about which content area literacy strategies are the most powerful, what situations they are the best use in, and why.

For myself, understanding specific concepts that outline the cause of the underlying problem provides a better foundation for understanding techniques for effective intervention then learning the techniques alone.

I believe that every teacher should be a reading teacher, or at least capable of the process. I also feel that every teacher should be competent in the skill of providing the correct accomodations for each individual student. Realizing that this is a major undertaking for anyone, my objectives following this course are to:

Learn more about the topics broached in class, which are the best suited for particular circumstances, and why…

Work to become very proficient at masterfully delivering these intervention in varying situations…

Continue to seek out new and developing strategies to aid in the development of literacy in my content area.

I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this class and would like to wish my classmates and instructors the best.

]]> Comment on I Wish I Knew More About… by Matt Marion http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/i-wish-i-knew-more-about/#comment-1080 Matt Marion Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:22:11 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=222#comment-1080 I might not state what I wish I knew more about but instead simply reflect on my experiences in the course. Many of the thoughts mentioned by fellow peers are very good. I also had a couple literacy courses in my undergraduate program, but I never felt as though I got as much out of them as I did with this one. Like Elyse, I came in feeling confident that I was proficient with technology. But yet, looking at the examples of blogs and examples from other teachers already on the web, I feel as though I am no longer proficient. I feel that I am no longer technologically proficient, as I was when I was only in say middle school and junior high. I have decided not to focus on what I wish I knew more about and instead try to focus on what I plan to do next. I specifically want to focus on increasing technological literacy and using technology to promote developing literacy and comprehension in my classroom. I would like to learn more technologies, whether software or Web 2.0 applications that I can incorporate. I do like Ning and SocialGo, which I plan on using in my classroom in developing a community of learners and communication. Among my writing above, I have come to one conclusion on what I would like to learn more about. I would like to learn more on specific during reading strategies. These strategies are a great asset in developing comprehension along the way as students read. To me these strategies are an asset to reading and understanding mathematics. I entered the course wondering if I would ever really use this or if it was “just another” literacy course which I would pull nothing from. Instead I am leaving with strategies which link literacy and differentiated instruction. I am leaving with a feeling that I actually am taking something away from this class. I might not state what I wish I knew more about but instead simply reflect on my experiences in the course. Many of the thoughts mentioned by fellow peers are very good. I also had a couple literacy courses in my undergraduate program, but I never felt as though I got as much out of them as I did with this one. Like Elyse, I came in feeling confident that I was proficient with technology. But yet, looking at the examples of blogs and examples from other teachers already on the web, I feel as though I am no longer proficient. I feel that I am no longer technologically proficient, as I was when I was only in say middle school and junior high. I have decided not to focus on what I wish I knew more about and instead try to focus on what I plan to do next. I specifically want to focus on increasing technological literacy and using technology to promote developing literacy and comprehension in my classroom. I would like to learn more technologies, whether software or Web 2.0 applications that I can incorporate. I do like Ning and SocialGo, which I plan on using in my classroom in developing a community of learners and communication. Among my writing above, I have come to one conclusion on what I would like to learn more about. I would like to learn more on specific during reading strategies. These strategies are a great asset in developing comprehension along the way as students read. To me these strategies are an asset to reading and understanding mathematics. I entered the course wondering if I would ever really use this or if it was “just another” literacy course which I would pull nothing from. Instead I am leaving with strategies which link literacy and differentiated instruction. I am leaving with a feeling that I actually am taking something away from this class.

]]> Comment on I Wish I Knew More About… by Jeff Doell http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/i-wish-i-knew-more-about/#comment-1079 Jeff Doell Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:04:26 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=222#comment-1079 I wish I knew more about techniques to construct math vocabulary. There are many strategies to review vocabulary, but actually constructing the meaning of the words, is to me the very process of teaching the concept. What you call the concept is not nearly important to me as what the concept is. To what extent is building a vocabulary a matter of assigning labels, and if that’s true is it important? Yes, it is because if you give students a text that has words they don’t know they will become frustrated, so they need to know the proper labels. But, if they develop the concepts first, they will have something to hang the label on, and be more likely to remember it. In the future I plan on exploring the importance of vocabulary in math comprehension, as well as the way students relate math concepts and their names. I wish I knew more about techniques to construct math vocabulary. There are many strategies to review vocabulary, but actually constructing the meaning of the words, is to me the very process of teaching the concept. What you call the concept is not nearly important to me as what the concept is. To what extent is building a vocabulary a matter of assigning labels, and if that’s true is it important? Yes, it is because if you give students a text that has words they don’t know they will become frustrated, so they need to know the proper labels. But, if they develop the concepts first, they will have something to hang the label on, and be more likely to remember it. In the future I plan on exploring the importance of vocabulary in math comprehension, as well as the way students relate math concepts and their names.

]]> Comment on I Wish I Knew More About… by Russina Eltoum http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/i-wish-i-knew-more-about/#comment-1078 Russina Eltoum Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:50:28 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=222#comment-1078 At this point I don’t think I have a certain thing that I wanted or wished to learn about in regards to content area literacy. But I believe that I might need to know more about the topic in the future; after I start teaching I might encounter some situations that needs more thinking form the teacher side. One thing I strongly believe in is that teachers should never stop learning. Not just about this topic (content area literacy) but also about other different topics that related specifically to teaching. At this point I don’t think I have a certain thing that I wanted or wished to learn about in regards to content area literacy. But I believe that I might need to know more about the topic in the future; after I start teaching I might encounter some situations that needs more thinking form the teacher side.
One thing I strongly believe in is that teachers should never stop learning. Not just about this topic (content area literacy) but also about other different topics that related specifically to teaching.

]]> Comment on I Wish I Knew More About… by Brian Slocum http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/i-wish-i-knew-more-about/#comment-1077 Brian Slocum Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:44:54 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=222#comment-1077 I personally wish I knew how to better connect students' interests to content area literacy in Math. As someone who enjoys Math, I still have difficulty reading about it sometimes whether it is due to the structure or format of the text, or whether I would simply rather read about another interest. Remembering all the things that ran through my mind during a typical high school day, I know how hard it can be for a student to maintain focus on a particular reading assignment. I want to be a teacher who is able to relate to students when they have difficulty with a reading assignment, not one who doesn't take into account their preferences. As music and art have always been great interests of mine, I hope to take a more creative approach when assigning big projects, allowing students to develop their own investigations under certain parameters. I want to personally investigate the various sources I can use to find math that is truly relevant and interesting to students, remembering that if it doesn't interest me, then I can certainly not expect it to interest them. I personally wish I knew how to better connect students’ interests to content area literacy in Math. As someone who enjoys Math, I still have difficulty reading about it sometimes whether it is due to the structure or format of the text, or whether I would simply rather read about another interest. Remembering all the things that ran through my mind during a typical high school day, I know how hard it can be for a student to maintain focus on a particular reading assignment. I want to be a teacher who is able to relate to students when they have difficulty with a reading assignment, not one who doesn’t take into account their preferences. As music and art have always been great interests of mine, I hope to take a more creative approach when assigning big projects, allowing students to develop their own investigations under certain parameters. I want to personally investigate the various sources I can use to find math that is truly relevant and interesting to students, remembering that if it doesn’t interest me, then I can certainly not expect it to interest them.

]]> Comment on I Wish I Knew More About… by Tyler Spitz http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/i-wish-i-knew-more-about/#comment-1076 Tyler Spitz Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:44:03 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=222#comment-1076 I certainly learned a lot of information that will be relevant to the success of my future teaching. The binder especially, is a critical tool going forward. I wish in knew more about specific math examples pertaining to the pre, during and post reading strategies. For example, is there a website that will have a reading specific to learning math content and has a strategy to use for the reading? Although I’m asking for the whole kit and caboodle, I’m not really asking for everyone else’s material. I would like to know where I can find specific readings and strategies that have worked in the classroom. Essentially, I’m looking for specific readings and the strategy used that was successful. I’m not necessarily for the completed strategy to avoid doing work on my own. I understand there are personal web pages such as blog’s, but this is more of a personal collection. Throughout my journey in life, I will be on the lookout for materials and strategies that when combined, successfully work in the classroom. If I were to win the lottery, I would focus some time and effort into preparing one website that essentially would be for teachers to upload lesson plans and commenting on the plans. Comments might include relevance, content and outcome. Do you know of a website like this? I certainly learned a lot of information that will be relevant to the success of my future teaching. The binder especially, is a critical tool going forward. I wish in knew more about specific math examples pertaining to the pre, during and post reading strategies. For example, is there a website that will have a reading specific to learning math content and has a strategy to use for the reading? Although I’m asking for the whole kit and caboodle, I’m not really asking for everyone else’s material. I would like to know where I can find specific readings and strategies that have worked in the classroom. Essentially, I’m looking for specific readings and the strategy used that was successful. I’m not necessarily for the completed strategy to avoid doing work on my own. I understand there are personal web pages such as blog’s, but this is more of a personal collection. Throughout my journey in life, I will be on the lookout for materials and strategies that when combined, successfully work in the classroom. If I were to win the lottery, I would focus some time and effort into preparing one website that essentially would be for teachers to upload lesson plans and commenting on the plans. Comments might include relevance, content and outcome. Do you know of a website like this?

]]> Comment on I Wish I Knew More About… by Chelsea Griswold http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/i-wish-i-knew-more-about/#comment-1075 Chelsea Griswold Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:43:14 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=222#comment-1075 I wish I knew more about verbal communication strategies. I'd like to learn more about supporting students who have language, speech, or emotional obstacles during verbal or oral communication activities. It seems like writing and reading was really enforced in this course, and while we were given some technology tools for presentations, I still want to know more about the oral communication part of content area literacy. Why you ask? Because I think the oral communication part of literacy is just as important as the written/read part. Mathematicians must be able to orally present their proofs and ideas to other mathematicians. Thus, my students, as young mathematicians, need to make verbal presentations about math as well. The more tools I have to support them in this endeavor the more successful they will be. I think to learn more about this I will take another literacy course for an elective here at Fisher, or I might pursue a literacy certification. Also I'm sure that I could use delicious to search the web, or collaborate with literacy specialists I already know to learn more about this! Thank you!! Chelsea I wish I knew more about verbal communication strategies. I’d like to learn more about supporting students who have language, speech, or emotional obstacles during verbal or oral communication activities. It seems like writing and reading was really enforced in this course, and while we were given some technology tools for presentations, I still want to know more about the oral communication part of content area literacy.
Why you ask? Because I think the oral communication part of literacy is just as important as the written/read part. Mathematicians must be able to orally present their proofs and ideas to other mathematicians. Thus, my students, as young mathematicians, need to make verbal presentations about math as well. The more tools I have to support them in this endeavor the more successful they will be.
I think to learn more about this I will take another literacy course for an elective here at Fisher, or I might pursue a literacy certification. Also I’m sure that I could use delicious to search the web, or collaborate with literacy specialists I already know to learn more about this!
Thank you!!
Chelsea

]]> Comment on I Wish I Knew More About… by Bill Heinsler http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/i-wish-i-knew-more-about/#comment-1074 Bill Heinsler Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:37:27 +0000 http://mstliteracy.wordpress.com/?p=222#comment-1074 I really want to learn more about how to find great resources for text for my students. I found that when I searched for articles about Algebra for my students to read, there were many times when I found either guides on how to progress through a mathematical problem, or scientific papers about how people learn Algebra. I know that once I start teaching, there will be resources within the school to use, and that the teachers that are already teaching will know of some resources. As this class ends, I will try to find more of these resources online as I really do want to integrate literacy into my mathematics classroom. I will search for more blogs that teachers have created and also search for book lists that correlate with my content area. Another thing that I would like to do is to start building my own library of relevant titles for students of mathematics. That way I'll be able to really incorporate literacy into my classroom. I really want to learn more about how to find great resources for text for my students. I found that when I searched for articles about Algebra for my students to read, there were many times when I found either guides on how to progress through a mathematical problem, or scientific papers about how people learn Algebra. I know that once I start teaching, there will be resources within the school to use, and that the teachers that are already teaching will know of some resources.

As this class ends, I will try to find more of these resources online as I really do want to integrate literacy into my mathematics classroom. I will search for more blogs that teachers have created and also search for book lists that correlate with my content area. Another thing that I would like to do is to start building my own library of relevant titles for students of mathematics. That way I’ll be able to really incorporate literacy into my classroom.

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