A) What are your perceptions of content literacy and the adolescent reader?
- Content literacy across all disciplines is an important aspect of the educational model. Students must associate efficient reading techniques with math and science in much the same manner they would in English or history. Yes, the individual reading techniques for each class may differ, but the effort and focus must be the same.
B) What are your experiences involving content literacy?
- My experiences involving content literacy are almost entirely focused around my middle and high school years. Content literacy played a large role in each of my classes. We were taught early on the different methods for understanding texts in different classes. We constantly read and critiqued science articles. In English, literature comprehension was taught in all grade levels. Math class was based on real-life applications, therefore effectively producing comprehension opportunities. The examples go on and on.
C) What are your initial observations of effective reading in your discipline?
- Literacy in English is possibly the easiest to measure simply because literature, grammar, and comprehension hold a constant place in this educational arena. In English courses, teachers place heavy emphasis on understanding the texts. The main idea, plot, characters, context, and setting come alive in English classes, and it is easier for adolescent readers to grasp the importance of these aspects. In science class, students may simply answer the questions at the end of the chapter. In English class, those same students are more likely to read the text from start to finish.
Sounds like you had a very supportive middle and high school experience with reading across all content areas. Do you think English teachers place more emphasis in comprehension than say, history or science teachers? I agree that there seems to be more connected text in English classes. Students are reading entire novels instead of chapters in textbooks. Answering questions at the end of the chapter always killed reading for me. I just skimmed to answer the questions.
ReplyDeleteEnglish teachers place more of an emphasis on comprehending the text as a whole. They want students to be able to creat meaning with the entire piece. I think many teachers in other disciplines are more concerned with students being able to pull from the text the information that will be on the test. Comprehension is not a major focus; test scores are.
ReplyDeleteAs far as questions at the end of the chapters go, they can be helpful with comprehension if they are used correctly. The questions should be used more as a guide to the reading, not an entrance for skimming.
I agree with Dr. Webb, sounds like you had a good support system in school. I wish that we would have been taught more effective ways to read in math in science, perhaps I might be more proficient at it. I also agree with what you said, that content literacy is important across all disciplines. I believe that this-if it was really enforced in all schools-would truly make for more well-rounded individuals. Ones who are passionate about several areas of study and knowledgeable not only about their specific expertise but others as well.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you point out the real life applications in your math experience. I think that this a great practice in helping students comprehend the content. It is a great metacognotive practice in making the students see that the math that they are using really does play a role in the real world and our daily lives. I also liked how you talk about how even though the content in the classes may be different, that we can still use the same comprehension techniques in all content areas. It is really all about our jobs as teachers to teach the students comprehension techniques that they can then utilize to understand the text in that specific content area better.
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