Reading for Enjoyment Hasn T Always Come Easy for Me. My Passion Has Developed Over Time
Reading for enjoyment hasn’t always come easy for me. My passion has developed over time with the help of important people in my life that have shown me reading can open many doors inside my imagination. As I matured as a reader and educator, I began to wonder what the reading process is actually like and the foundation it is built upon. Reading is one of the most important concepts man kind has developed. How does one learn to read? Does each person learn reading diagnostically same? Many researchers and linguist have pondered these very same questions for ages.
In order to help answer some of my very own questions, I joined the MA reading program. As I look back on my classes and the wealth of information I’ve learned, I can’t think of one thing I haven’t enjoyed. Reading about some of the greatest pioneers of reading such as Euri, Adams, and Perfetti have shown me that reading processes take more than just picking up a book and reading the words on the page. Learning how to assess and correct reading problems at an early age is extremely important. My reading program has not only taught me how to assess, but also correct issues students might face as they begin their first reading stages.
Looking back over my entire program, each class has offered something unique regarding reading and the foundations it is built upon. Learning the psychological basis’ of reading through discovering the politics that can engross reading fields, along with advanced literacy practices has shown me that the reading field is an ever growing and developing practice. I’ve also learned that being current on the latest reading practices is extremely important as I advance through the reading program. Staying up to date will help me be a much more effective teacher.
When children break down words (decoding), they build vocabulary muscle and when it is time to use that muscle they strengthen their identity of the word. A child must have print knowledge, sound knowledge, which will build on meaning and context. When a person tries to comprehend anything, they must try and break it down into manageable pieces. As a classroom teacher, one of the hardest things I have noticed is the lack of vocabulary understanding and reading understanding. I’ve found that students just don’t know simple reading processes that I felt they should already have knowledge of. Through my studies I’ve learned vocabulary seems to be a central theme to decoding and understanding what is read. If kids don’t understand the words they read in text, then how will they comprehend and develop an understanding of what they are reading?
All in all, understanding the reading process is more than just reading text. So many factors come into play as children develop their skills. Learning to view words in text, and the sounds that those words make is essential for growth. In all my studies completed I’ve developed a much stronger desire to grow as a teacher and reading specialist. There are and will continue to be many theories developed to explain the psychology of reading. It’s through this reading program that I’ve learned as long as reading practice and theory continues to grow and expand children will have a bright future ahead of them.