Reading and Good Teachers

 Reading and writing are fundamental parts of everyday communication and literacy. As future educators, it is our job to take the time necessary to allow our students to reach their unique potentials. According to Allington, for kids to grow as readers and to fully comprehend learning, it is important for teachers to look at what really matters. It seems to me a lot more simple than it is made out to be. There is a direct link between reading proficiency and volume. The more students read, the more they will learn. Practice makes perfect. Students need more time on task to focus on age appropriate reading for longer periods of time. If students have more options, and the school allows teachers to work towards matching the student to the text, there is a better chance that the student will enjoy the learning journey. Instead of reading text aloud, it is more efficient to have students read silently. In  the time that they read, teachers could practice what Allington describes as "near" and "far" observation. By watching the students' posture, noticing their facial expressions, and being aware of their comfortability with a text, teachers can gauge reading levels, or at least notice when a student is struggling. With "near observation" a teacher may stand next to a student who is having difficulty and provide guidance. the students also need to be interested in what they are reading, or at least believe in their potential to understand a text in order to grow from reading a book. The difficulty level of a book may be established through the "three finger method" that Allington explains. have the student read a few lines in the beginning of the book, each time a word or phrase is not understood, the child simply puts one finger up. If the student finds three words they do not know, it means the book is too difficult. This allows the teacher to keep record and better accommodate a students unique reading level.

Every student is different, and a child's grade level has little relevance to the exact reading level they will be at. Instead of allocating a specific book for the whole class to read, it is far more beneficial to provide options for the students that best fit their literacy needs. If a book is too difficult, it will only hurt the child's confidence, and push them back further. The learning environment the students have also has a direct effect on their reading proficiency. A classroom with limited access to books or an ill-equipped library has a correlation with lower academic achievement. In most cases it is the student in a  low-income family or school district that will suffer.  Not having books at home is another issue, and this is why programs that allow students to obtain books for cheap is a great addition to a community. We want to teach children to love reading and encourage them to read for fun, as well as for school. The author makes note that series books are often debated between being beneficial or unworthy of the student's time. In this case, it seems to me that if it is something the student can follow or brings out a desire to read int he child, I say go for it. Why discourage a young reader? I will say that it is important to have a wide variety of texts available, but that does not necessarily mean the student should be restricted completely.

Teachers need to consider class structure. Time in school is so valuable, and what happens from 8 am to 2:30 pm Monday through Friday has a monumental impact on literacy in school-aged children. There needs to be better management of time and teacher collaboration among all subjects in school. Just because a student is in history class or math class and not in reading workshop, does not mean their reading time should be limited. There needs to be more reading incorporated across the whole curriculum. Textbooks should be approachable as well. There is no sense in having a textbook if the student struggles to read the words on the pages. Overall, the real issue at hand is finding a creative way to interest the students and create several opportunities throughout the school day for students to read and get to know themselves better in the process. This is going to take more than state standards and funding, it is going to take passionate and motivating teachers.