Module+8+Disucssion

Step 5: Grand Conversation:

1. What does research say about this topic? BM - Teaching comprehension strategies empowers struggling readers by teaching them to do the things that good readers do automatically. ZL- Modeling of comprehension strategies is an excellent way for teachers to aid in their students comprehension skills. NH- Child who lack reading comprehension need to use comprehension strategies to increase reading comprehension. Teachers need to teach these comprehension strategies in a natural enviroment.

2. Why must teachers go through extensive preparation to teach comprehension? BM - The strategies are things that come naturally to many people. There are many areas and strategies that must be taught. They must also be used together. Reading Comprehension is a complex process involving decoding the letters and words, thinking about what they say, connecting to prior knowledge, checking against prior knowledge, visualization... all at the same time. Beyond teaching the strategies teachers must facilitate an environment where they are practiced, discussed, and developed. ZL-Reading without comprehension is not reading at all. Teachers must go through extensive preparation to teach comprehension so that they have a solid foundation and can model the strategies. I believe, even the best of teachers, were taught, if you don't understand it, reread it. (Plain and Simple) This is not an effective comprehension strategy. NH- Teaching reading comprehension can not be routine therefore teachers need to extensively prepare each comprehension lesson.

3. Why has the pendulum changed to balance comprehensive instruction? BM - Teaching the skills gives students a powerful tool but the students must practice using them for the skills to develop and begin to come naturally ZL- The skills of comprehension strategies will not help the teacher solely, especially if she does not share them with her students. Most likely, her comprehension skills are good. The teacher must share the information in an active role in order for students to use comprehension skills automatically in their reading process. NH- A balanced approach to comprehension is important because teachers have given opportunites to read, write, and disccuss text but not taught the strategies to use while doing so, or have flip floped it. For students they need both to be succssful in reading.

Personal Questions: NH1-Metacognition is difficult to teach. What is your favorite strategy when modeling metacognition? BM - I think sometimes you open the door to metacognition just by letting them know that they are supposed to be thinking and making judgements while they are reading. I liked the exercise where they were to question or critique the author. I think this would empower the students. NH2- Do you feel that in your school every teacher really is a reading teacher meaning they teach comprehension strategies or do they just feel like it is the reading teachers job? ZL: I do feel that it is every teachers job to teach comprehension strategies. READING IS LIFE! Reading is not over just because Mrs. Lewis' 2nd hour class has ended. Yes, it is hard for teachers to buy into it. However, the quicker ALL TEACHERS realize this, the better all students will do, in ALL SUBJECT areas. In the upper grades it is hard to get science teachers and math teachers to buy in to this concept. NH3*- Have you ever tried literature circles in your classroom? I have in the upper grades with mixed succss. If you have what strategies did you use that are most helpful when using them?

BM1* - I just ordered a book from Amazon called "Mosaic of Thought - The Power of Comprehension Strategy Instruction." Are you familiar with this book? The authors are Keene and Zimmerman. ZL I have heard of the book. I would love to read it. Tell me what you think of it. BM2 - Are content area teachers taught about comprehension strategies? ZL I don't think that they are, which is very sad for students' sake. NH- In my district they are through our literacy training however, sadly some upper grade teachers do not listen really well during PD so not many of them use them. They think they are too baby or elementary. However, the ones that use them all agree they work. BM3 - Are primary grades capable of carrying out literature circles?

ZL1) How well are your students comprehending? ZL2) What areas can you improve in teaching comprehension? BM - I can honestly say that before this master's program I was not teaching these strategies. I began using them last year and found the student's very receptive to them. They would come to my desk or shout out whenever they made a personal connection to the text. NH- The metacognition strategies that are given in the modules are all really great. I actually think the opening and closing are great and need to be used as well. These modules are kind of how I do things in my room. I do pre/mid/post reading strategies and comprehension just falls in there.
 * ZL3) Give me some ideas on how you teach comprehension?