Decoding, Encoding, Comprehending….

Decoding, Encoding, Reading Fluently, and Comprehending Text

Decoding is the ability to read a word with accuracy.
 Encoding is spelling and writing a text with accuracy.
 Reading Fluently is the ability to read a text smoothly with phrasing and intonation.  Fluency aids in comprehension but does not ensure comprehension.
 Comprehending a text refers to the understanding of a text, and the ability to express ones understanding using multiple reading strategies.
 Important points to consider:
·      A student may be able to decode and read with fluency but have limited comprehension.  This child needs purely comprehension instruction using explicit reading instruction focusing on reading strategies such as: main idea and details, sequence of events, cause and effect, inferring, drawing conclusions, summarizing, synthesizing, and evaluating.  It is not productive for a child to be pushed to read more challenging texts, just because they can say words correctly.  If anything, the child should start at a lower level to build the basics of comprehension.

·      A poor decoder and encoder who struggle with fluency may have strong comprehension.  In this case a systematic approach to teaching phonics and fluency is the approach to take.

Understanding what is read is by far the most important goal of reading; therefore discussing texts with your student or child is imperative.  Students who struggle with decoding and fluency need to take part in the pleasure of reading.  In order for them to feel ownership over the process, they need to develop a love of reading.  At home, reading needs to be associated with a relaxing, pleasurable time.  

My favorite quote this week…

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents” –Emilie Buchwald
  

Recommended Website
http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching

Books for Boys

This week's blog is for all the moms out their with sons who are reluctant readers.

We are taught from a very young age that the more you practice, the better you will get.  So what happens when your son, finds no enjoyment or engagement in the books he's told he has to read?

I am imagining this...you open your son's backpack and find a book that he needs to read for twenty minutes for his reading log.  When you mention that he needs to read, you hear a grunt.
      A huge power struggle begins that results in frustrated parents and children.
      There are negative thoughts and feelings being associated with books.
      Valuable reading time is being lost.

What do you do as a parent?

First, talk to you child about why he doesn't want to read the book. It may be a topic he actually does enjoy but it's too difficult.  This provides the perfect opportunity for you to read aloud to him and have an in depth conversation about the characters, plot, genre, and reasons why the author might have written the book.

If you know your child can read the words and understand the topic, but is just not into it, find out if this was a choice book or a required text.  At many points in our life, we do need read required texts; however it needs to be paired with something enjoyable. 

Why?

Your son needs to have a positive experience with a book; that's the only way he will want to pick it up again and.... the practice begins.

How do you hook your child on the right book? Recommendations from teachers and fellow parents are great, but we are not the ones who will have to read the book.  To make this a more meaningful experience, engage your son in the process. Bring him to Barnes and Noble, the Library, or any other bookstore around.  Look through all different kinds of books, see what he gravitates towards.

If he chooses a book too hard, don't discourage the choice.  You can read the book to him and this will build his receptive vocabulary, so when he encounters these words, he will have an easier time decoding and understanding them.

I have referenced the following website many times in the past, but I keep coming back to it whenever a parent inquires..."How do I get my son to love reading?"

Check it out, and please comment below about your own experiences.

http://www.guysread.com/books/ 
 
     

Back to Blogging in 2014

Happy 2014!

Some statistics to ponder….
70-80% of prison inmates are school dropouts
60% of inmates are illiterate to semiliterate
63% of inmates are repeat offenders
(The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease)


Reading is the building block to every subject a student encounters in school.  Why do students drop out? Several reasons of course; however statistics don't lie….

We need to change the social climate of America by changing the graduation rate.  Where does it start? Before a child enters the doors of a school building.

Unfortunately, not every child has the opportunity to hear books read aloud snuggled up to a loved one.  Not every child is actively participating in family discussions, asking in depth questions about why things work the way they work. Not every child is asked his or her opinion about a topic then asked to support it with reasons and examples. LOL…
Fortunately, some children have this opportunity at home.
Fortunately, teachers are life time learners and seek best practices in literacy to meet every child's learning style.

If you are a parent reading this, just remember this…children strive to be like their parents (whether they admit it or not), so what better role model is there than fostering the love of learning through reading.  It doesn't matter if your child is 2 or 12, find the time to read together and talk together.  Set high expectations for your child in literacy. Use vocabulary words that you know they haven't heard of…Read books that are too hard for them to read themselves, but ask them questions.  Focus on the why and the how questions.  You want  your child to start a discussion and not answer in one word.  You are training your child to think critically for him or herself in a world that is competitive.

If you are a teacher reading this, keep learning, keep loving, keep believing that what we do in the classroom is all worth it. Despite all the pressures of testing, data, evaluations etc… we are in this profession for a reason.  On a bad day or at a bad moment, dig deep and remember how you could change a student's life forever.

Some helpful websites for teachers and parents are below….
http://www.candohelperpage.com
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/things-parents-can-build-up-childs-comprehension-skills-5054.html

Reading on the RIght Level

Reading research shows that the more time a student spends reading, the better the reader he or she becomes.  Before you give your child 20 texts, please consider the following:

What level does your child read at with 98% or higher accuracy and solid comprehension?

With the new Common Core Standards, students are expected to read in a range. What this means is they should be exposed to texts that are on their independent level.  These texts they will read with ease and be able to understand and discuss the texts.  They need to be exposed to on grade level texts, and if this is above their instructional level, they will need lots of guidance.  If it is on their instructional level, they will need some guidance to decode words and monitor comprehension.  All students should be exposed to above grade level or above instructional level texts through read alouds.  The basis for reading is listening. The more background knowledge that we can provide, the better the foundation the student has to jump start his or her reading

Leveling systems may vary among districts.  A common text gradient by Fountas and Pinnell pinpoints where a student should be at each grade level.  Books in teachers' libraries are leveled so students are guided to make the right choices.

 

Gian Paul Gonzalez - ARE YOU ALL IN?

Take this message however it can apply to your life now.
Ask yourself, are you ALL IN? Everyone's "all in" is different.  Just imagine, if every single
adult was "All IN" to every child's literacy development.......Wow how the world would change.
I'm All IN.

Are you All IN?

Did you know that research shows that students who will have successful first reading experiences have had 500 books read aloud to them? At first the number sounds high, but it really isn't... Reflect on your own child from birth to age 4-5. How many books have you, family members, caregivers, teachers, and even apps read to them?

Reading aloud builds a solid foundation for your student or child to take ownership as a reader themselves.  As you read a title and the author of a book, they are learning that a person wrote the text and drew the pictures.  Kids learn directionality  (reading left to right) and tracking (pointing to the word that is being read) as well as thinking and talking about pictures.

I have heard many many parents say, "my kids just won't stop to listen....they are always on the go...they lose focus...they are just not into it"  I ask you, are you ALL IN?

Inspired by our Somerville Public School In Service Day speaker, Gian Paul Gonzalez, I realized this small statement speaks volumes when it comes to our children's literacy development.

Prioritize.  Believe in the process. Tell them you are doing it, and DO IT. Even if you have a stuffed animal as your audience.  Kids understand what we value as adults.  It's going to catch on.  If it doesn't, think of your time frame.  If you are reading to a 4 year old, you have 4-6 minutes for them to stay engaged.  Consider the topic you are reading.  Are you using intonation? Are you vested in this quiet time or are you texting while flipping through pages?
No one is perfect.  Just like our students can sense when adults are angry or happy; they can sense what we value and truly believe in. Make it a priority and go ALL IN!

Surround your child with just right texts!

Researchers findings consistently state that the best readers read a lot! Well, that makes sense; however your child needs access to lots of texts at their reading level.  They need to build stamina with independent reading and be exposed to higher levels through read alouds.  What level does your child's teacher say  they are reading?



http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/

Find tons of texts at that level here...