I think reading is not an exact process. It is a process of using all strategies of reading; predicting, monitoring comprehension, confirming and clarifying, and that is what makes a proficient reader. Reading is more than knowing the grapho/phonemic cues. That is only a small part of reading comprehension. I feel like the most important part of the reading process is understanding the syntax and semantics of what you are reading.
Figure 3.1 on page 44, helped me visually see how we as readers breakdown what we read and use context to derive meaning within the text and beyond the text. It also confirmed for me that a good reader does not need to know every word they read, but if they use the context they will have understanding of the text. A good and proficient reader can change the content of the sentence and even omit words, as long as it fits the context of the sentence and you are preserving meaning. If we strictly focus on the pronunciation of words or graphics a child is losing meaning they have to use all of the knowledge within and beyond. (Weaver, 62) Good readers use syntactic and semantic context automatically and efficiently, to reduce their reliance on graphic cues and grapho/phonemic knowledge. Good readers also draw upon their personal schema, their “prior knowledge and experience.”
If we want students to become better readers we have to allow them to use prior knowledge and experience with structure and meaning. We have to allow for miscues to happen. A good reader does not have to be the fastest, best pronunciation or most fluent. It is ok for them to change words, take their time, read ahead and even struggle. This is what will help them to become a good reader. With this said, I do not believe reading is an exact process it is something that you build on with many strategies.
So true! Great readers use prior knowledge end experience in order to construct meaning from the text. Some students that I have taught are caught up on saying every word correctly, and being the fastest reader. I try to mold them into becoming effective readers by understanding the meaning of the text. Good readers should be able to pull meaning from the text even if they cannot identify each word.
ReplyDeleteI especially like what you said about a "good reader". A good reader is someone who might still make mistakes, but is someone who uses all of the resources they have available to them to gain meaning from the text. All of the miscues, skipped words and struggles are what puts them on the road to being a good reader. We should all work to make our students good readers like this. I also liked the list of reading strategies you gave at the beginning of your reflection- all so great!
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