To continue from my last post, I
wanted to start off with discussing these subject matters; text relationships,
richness of detail, text structure, vocabulary density, and author purpose when
considering teaching comprehension with complex texts. Let’s start with text
relationships this is when we determine the relationships between ideas in
informational texts or between characters in literary fiction that become less basic
for us to understand. If a student can’t make the necessary links between what
they are reading they will get blogged down in the process. The richness of
detail is when the texts become more complex and or in depth in terms of background
and its structure it will automatically become richer with detail. If the
student is doesn’t have the strong foundation of reading they will more than likely
get blogged down here as well. Text structure is the way the ideas/information
is presented to the reader and how it is organized. Students need to be able to develop a sense
of how to make their way through the text by themselves to continue reading
without being given the directions by the author. Vocabulary Density simply
means the increased text complexity due to the challenging vocabulary that is
presented to the reader by the author. This can actually help draw the reader
into a more engaged state when reading text in my opinion. “Finally, complex
texts may mandate that readers infer the author’s purpose and intentions for
writing the text.”(pg.41) This will be more clear to the reader when the texts
is less complex and will be become harder for the reader to decode when the
text gets more complex. By utilizing the steps that were listed in my last post
it will help in this facet of reading. Being able to read complex text proficiently
will determine how far the student will be able to continue their education
beyond grade school. In my next post we will look at teaching to the match:
bridging academic knowledge gaps.
Teaching abstract text is one of the hardest texts to teach. It test the students' ability to make connections between events and ideas. It needs a high level of comprehension and fluency. I was wondering about the second language learners ability to manage these texts.
ReplyDeleteTeaching abstract text is one of the hardest texts to teach. It test the students' ability to make connections between events and ideas. It needs a high level of comprehension and fluency. I was wondering about the second language learners ability to manage these texts.
ReplyDeleteWe have to remember, as teachers, that not all of our students are fluent in english. We have such a variety of ethnicity and culture now and we need to learn how to teach according to that! Bringing in texts into the classroom that are just full of hard texts for the students may create a learning problem for our students! I think i will be having different language text in my classroom! Our for us PE teachers, the office! haha
ReplyDeleteI know depending on the level students learn how to navigate through the text with some help from the teacher. Sadly, later on when harder texts are incorporated and the organization of the text is not so simple we tend to lose many students. Navigation is also impossible and students get frustrated. I have been in that place many times as a graduate student. Some texts behave so differently than others that I don't know how to start to really understand what the authors are saying. I wish that it could be a magic recipe to be able to use the same strategies to approach whatever text.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main reasons of having a complex texts is having very technical terms that cannot be understandable for many of students. As an English teacher foe EFLs, I think introduce new terms it must be done in advance before reading the texts to make student familiar with these terms . If I do this I guess reading is going to be more understandable.
ReplyDeleteI think by having complex terms within a text it allows the students to research the definitions of said words and in turn expand his/her vocabulary. If the students are ELL, what better way to show them the importance of complex wording. As a teacher, one should explain the meanings of course, but if a student takes it upon them-self to define the complex words, the better off they are.
ReplyDeleteI will have to go back and read and comment on your blog before this. Sorry, I'm randomly picking and choosing blogs to read. I'm a little confused were you wrote "Being able to read complex text proficiently will determine how far the student will be able to continue their education beyond grade school". Maybe I need to read your blog before this to help me understand. Is this in a certain subject like becoming an accountant or a lawyer math vs. English?
ReplyDeleteI think that it is important for the students to have to figure things out on their own. While it is our job to teach the students, we can't be holding their hands through each and every step. If we do this, then we are only failing them in the long run as they will look for someone to help them at everything they do.
ReplyDelete