Session+8

One way to engage a reader is to activate a reader’s prior knowledge on a subject. By doing so, the reader pulls information from his/her long-term memory into his/her short term memory and they are able to make connections from that to the text that is being read. They refer to this in the article as the reader’s world knowledge. It states that the more background knowledge a reader has that connects with the text being read, the more likely the reader will be able to make sense of what is being read.
 * 1) Identify how to get the reader to engage in some form of text.

For students to learn how to comprehend what they are reading teachers need to do many things to support their students. Teachers need to teach decoding skills, help students build fluency, build and activated prior knowledge, teach vocabulary words, motivate students, and engage them in personal responses to text.
 * 1) Discuss the importance of teachers learning how to support readers.

By building and activating prior knowledge, students can better comprehend what they are reading. It is a teacher’s job to teach students how to do this. Teachers can do this by allowing the students to read informational books. By giving students informational books to read this can increase a student’s world view. Therefore, students will have more information to connect text to.
 * 1) How do you think you can build and activate prior knowledge.

One of the biggest complaints students have about reading is they don’t enjoy the books or short stories that the teachers choose to assign. Teachers can motivate students to read by choosing books based on their interests. Teachers can also give students choices in reading materials. Students will be more motivated and interested in reading if they are actively involved in choosing what they read.
 * 1) How do you think you can motivate students to read.

According to the article, teachers can help students learn and apply comprehension strategies while reading, through writing and during student-led discussion groups called Book Clubs. In Book Clubs, students explore the individual meanings that have emerged as they engage with a text over a period of time.
 * 1) How do you think you can engage students in personal responses to text.

Students need to understand the text structure, if students understand basic story structure such as plot, characters, and setting. They will learn how to make text-to-text associations between certain types of genres. This will help their comprehension when reading stories, other than fiction.
 * 1) How do you think you can understand the importance of teaching text structures.

There is a parallel between good readers and good writers. Daily in my classroom I have a writing prompt. Together we read the writing prompt and then the students draw and write their responses. When they are finished they read orally their responses. This helps them to see the connection between reading and writing.
 * 1) How will you create visible reading/writing connections.