While reading, "Leading a Successful Reading Program" by Guth & Pettengill, I came across some ideas that can be utilized to ensure that the Reading Programme at our schools is successful. The ideas surround involving key stakeholders in building a “Literacy Community”. Firstly, at the commencement of the school academic year one can briefly talk about the role of a Reading Specialist during the staff meeting. One can also identify resources that may be available to assist staff and students. In addition, for Open Day one can have a display that promotes literacy. That display can include pictures of staff preparing their classroom or reading a book. Those pictures will serve as a form of motivation to students as we, the teachers lead by example.
One can also conduct an informal survey to obtain information about experiences of the staff, reading programmes that have or have not been successful, and resources that they would like to see available at the school. Furthermore, as a Reading Specialist one can create a resource area to assist teachers. However, after providing the resources it is important to do follow-up checks on the teachers to see how the resources are working. As regards parents, the Reading Specialist can interact with them during P.T.A meetings, discussing the Reading Programme and encouraging them to read with their children. There can also be sessions scheduled to educate parents about strategies to improve and strengthen literacy skills.
You have presented powerful information on creating a successful reading program at one's school. You mentioned the key stakeholders and what can be done to ensure that struggling readers improve. Each stakeholder is important
ReplyDeleteand one must seek to get each one involved. One stakeholder that I think is often neglected is the parents. You suggested some strategies to get parents on board. I believe there is great benefit to be derived from investing in this particular stakeholder. After all parents are the stakeholders that perhaps spend the most time with their children. This gives them a great opportunity to help their children learn to read well.
I like your idea of a 'Literacy Community.' Coming out of this idea, I think that as Reading Specialists we can develop effective literacy centres in the schools which are not only open to students and teachers of the school but also made known to the parents who might want to develop their own such activity centre at home for their children. This will improve family literacy, a very important element in a move towards a nation's literacy development.
ReplyDeleteSyndy Jahoor
I agree that all stakeholders should be involved in the creation and continuation of 'Literacy Community'. Teachers are usually the ones to make things work. They must be motivated, involved and rewarded just like our students. Too many times decisions are made without consultation and the teachers are not supportive because of this.
ReplyDeleteI also love the idea of involving the parents and family of the students. In my experience, students academic ability is a direct reflection of that of the parents. Meeting the needs of the parents through a literacy community is a fantastic idea.
I agree with your suggestions for setting up a reading programme. I also think that a reading programme should be one that makes reading fun, meaningful and engender within children a love for reading. According to Lois Scott- Conley (see Reference), an Extensive Reading (ER) progamme makes this possible. An Extensive Reading (ER) programme refers to reading a lot at a fairly easy level so that what is read is comprehended without the use of a dictionary.
ReplyDeleteThe programme comprises of three phases – library preparation, teacher preparation and assessment. I will focus more on the teacher preparation phase as it narrows the focus to the students and the strategies that would be use to scaffold their reading experiences. In doing so, the programme caters for building motivation and expanding the reading.
The students are motivated to participate in the programme in various ways. Teachers can do so by reading the graded books (that will be used in the programme) themselves and use this knowledge to build students’ interest and curiosity for reading. Also “videotapes of interviews with students talking about the program are an especially powerful source of motivation.” The teacher should also prepare oral "book pitches," and encourage students to make them too. For example students can compete to "sell" their favorite book to other students
To expand their reading, the teacher starts with class sets, that is, everyone in the class reading the same book together. The books should be easy enough for everyone in class. Teachers can use this time to generate excitement about reading by having fun with the stories and by slowly introducing reading strategies to help students read efficiently.
Students are then prepared for independent reading where teachers will want to continue the focus of motivation and even revisit some of activities used at the beginning of the program. The strategies used for independent reading will vary but it can include discussion skills, debate, and conversation strategy training.
Sorry reading specialist enthusiasts, I am already over my word limit so for further information, please check website for more information. Remember a successful ER programme will foster motivation, teach students how to learn, and give them plenty of supported practice at reading.
Reference:
Scott- Conley, L. Starting an extensive reading program. Retrieved from www.extensivereading.net/er/lois.html