The readings this week seemed to focus on strategies to help students to read and comprehend different texts. For example, the Tovani passages described the importance of modeling reading to our students. As a mathematics teacher, I recognize that many of my students struggle with comprehending word problems. It is important for me to model to my students how to go about reading a word problem. Especially, picking out the information that is relevant to solving the problem and recognizing what information is not relevant. I have already started teaching my students this reading strategy in the classroom. In addition, the Bakken and Whedon (2002) article also mentions reading strategies for students who may not be used to reading expository texts. Many of these strategies still help me comprehend expository texts today. I especially liked the order strategy for a history textbook. For a mathematics textbook, however, I believe that the compare and contrast method may be the best strategy. This would allow students to compare and contrast new mathematical concepts to previously learned concepts. Math is a subject that builds on previously learned skills, so I believe that this would really benefit students with both reading comprehension and mathematics.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Reflection #2: Text Structure & Accessing Text
The readings this week seemed to focus on strategies to help students to read and comprehend different texts. For example, the Tovani passages described the importance of modeling reading to our students. As a mathematics teacher, I recognize that many of my students struggle with comprehending word problems. It is important for me to model to my students how to go about reading a word problem. Especially, picking out the information that is relevant to solving the problem and recognizing what information is not relevant. I have already started teaching my students this reading strategy in the classroom. In addition, the Bakken and Whedon (2002) article also mentions reading strategies for students who may not be used to reading expository texts. Many of these strategies still help me comprehend expository texts today. I especially liked the order strategy for a history textbook. For a mathematics textbook, however, I believe that the compare and contrast method may be the best strategy. This would allow students to compare and contrast new mathematical concepts to previously learned concepts. Math is a subject that builds on previously learned skills, so I believe that this would really benefit students with both reading comprehension and mathematics.
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I model reading in my class too. We have a warm-up everyday that contains 5 word or contextual problems. We read them aloud and discuss the key words. Often students cannot find the key words because they have not been regularly exposed to them. I also use many of the different strategies listed in the B&W article. However now they are second nature and I don't think about my method of reading. That is often a problem that teachers face. We do not slow down enough for our students to follow our train of thought.
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