Sierra HerrEDUC-5322 Fundamentals of Elementary Education

Instruction II

5th Grade Social Studies

Adolescent Literacy

• Adolescents deserve access to several reading materials that are desirable.

• Adolescents deserve expert teachers who provide explicit instruction.

• There should be instruction that builds skill and gives adolescents the desire to read challenging materials.

• Adolescents deserve reading specialists who will help them progress as readers.

Adolescent Literacy

• Reading instruction should be targeted and provided by well-trained teachers.

• There should be support for learning in content classes.

• Reading comprehension instruction should meet the needs of all readers.

Educational issues related to teaching adolescents

• Students must learn how to relate their prior knowledge to new information.

• Adolescents have to adjust to the content-focused school when making the transition from elementary school to middle school.

• An effective reading program must be implemented with an effective writing program.

Important issues related to content area textbooks

• The readers aren’t enabled to engage with the text because the information is very condensed.

• There are too many poor visuals in the text that distracts readers.

• They are superficial in regards to covering key ideas.

• They are often factually incorrect and aren’t actually written for the students (they are written to meet content standards).

Vocabulary issues related to adolescent and content literacy

• Struggling readers usually lack the necessary skill to learn the meanings of unfamiliar words.

• Readers often skip over unknown words and continue reading rather than applying a vocabulary strategy.

• Students must have the desire to learn new words and should develop a good attitude about learning words.

Vocabulary strategies that work well for adolescents

• Possible sentences: Students create sentences using a list of words to predict the main ideas in a passage.

• List-group-label: A list of related items in groups is created as a class.

• Inductive vocabulary search: The text is previewed and students make lists of words they think are important.

• Concept maps: A graphic organizer that helps students understand how the ideas relate to each other.

Comprehension issues related to adolescent and content literacy

• The major goal related to comprehension involves the student having the ability to comprehend texts without the teacher’s help.

• Comprehension instruction must be facilitated before, during and after reading.

• When students collaborate with others about their reading, they learn about how others comprehend text.

• Students should have an ample amount of time to read.

Comprehension strategies that work well for adolescents

• Reciprocal teaching: Teachers and students take turns discussing the meaning of text.

• K-W-L plus strategy: Know, Want to Know, Learned). Students fill out a chart before, during and after the reading to monitor learning.

• Questioning the author: (QtA). A strategy that enables students to ponder what the author is saying rather than what the textbook is saying.

Importance of using alternative texts with adolescents

• Exposes students to a variety of text structures and genres.

• Instruction can be differentiated when text sets are used.

• Students are led to critical thinking by encountering discrepancies.

• Students encounter the same vocabulary and basic concepts in many different places.

Five alternative texts for my specific topic in a content course

• Magazine Article: Abraham Lincoln has his neck shortened (Highlights Kids)

• Poem: The California gold rush (History for Kids).

• Secondary book: The civil rights movement in America by Landau.

• Elementary book: We’re writing the Constitution by Fritz.

• Website: Social Studies at kids.gov.

Role of dyslexia in Texas classrooms

• Each identified student must be provided access to an instructional program at his/her campus.

• Teachers must be well-trained in dyslexia and related disorders.

• Early reading instruments must be administered to all students K-2.

• Parents/guardians shall be provided with a parent education program for dyslexia and related disorders.

Role of dyslexia in Texas classrooms

• An accelerated reading program has to be implemented if a student is determined to be at risk.

• Parents/guardians have to be notified if students is considered to be at risk.

• The goal of the intervention program is to provide the same opportunity for success.

Important learnings

• Learned about the important role of dyslexia in the classroom and the job of the teachers, parents and district.

• Learned about the effective strategies related to helping students with comprehension and vocabulary.

• Learned how to select materials for the classroom and the issues surrounding it.

Important learnings

• Learned about the significance of teaching students how to comprehend content-area textbooks.

• Learned about adolescent literacy and how essential it is for students to read well by using effective reading strategies to better understand the material.

• Learned about how important it is to keep students engaged when reading by using before, during and after strategies.

References

• The dyslexia handbook: Procedures concerning dyslexia and related disorders. (2010, September). Austin, TX: Texas Education Agency.

• Buehl, R., Irvin, J. & Radcliffe, B. (2007). Strategies to Enhance Literacy and Learning in Middle School Content Area Classrooms, 3rd Ed. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. (p.3-164)