Learning Log Ch. 9

One of the decisions the diagnostic teacher makes is to select instructional materials that fit the students' reading performance.

Selecting the appropriate leveled materials for a student is crucial to his or her ability to learn. If the material is too easy, the student will not be challanged enough. If the material is too difficult, the student may get frustrated. Both of these outcomes are not positive ones. The instructional materials need to be the correct level for the student so that optimum learning takes place.

Basal readers are anthologies of stories arranged by grade level and packaged for each grade along with an instructional manual and workbooks.

I think that basal readers are a good starting point for a well balanced literacy program. I do not think that basal readers should be the reading program but they do add a nice component to literacy. As a new teacher, I would not really know where to begin to set up my literacy program without the basal readers. They do offer a lot of great stories as well as ideas that a new teacher can take advantage of. I think the problem comes when it is the only component of the literacy program. When teachers rely too heavily on it and they do not incorporate other apects to balance the program.

Technology is another source for reading material.

I think that when students are reading things online or on a computer, they do not even realize that they are reading! This can be a great motivator for students, especially boys. This trick even works on my husband! If you ask him if he reads, he will say no but he spends atleast an hour a day reading online. For some reason, he does not consider this reading. I think that many of my students will not consider this reading either! Anything is worth a try with some of these students that are reading resistant!

Interest is crucial when selecting a book.

I would not give a second grade boy the book Fancy Nancy to read. It would just not make sense. On the other hand, I may not give a adolescent girl a book about Star Wars. Finding things that interest our readers may be half of the battle with teaching. How many times have you opened up your basal reader and found all of students looking back at you bored as can be? This would not happen if they were interested and engaged in the book choices.

Closely tied to both choice and interest is the background knowledge of the reader.

Being able to tap into a student's interest may prove priceless when it comes to his or her reading advancements. A student who loves animals would probably enjoy reading books about them. This also can help because a student may be able to identify and read more difficult words because they are familiar with terms having to do with animals. This can help to boost confidence as well.