Cambourne' article, Holistic, Integrated Approaches to Reading and Language Arts Instruction: The Constructivist Framework of an Instructional Theory, made me reflect on my past. Throughout my three decades of teaching, I have seen the pendulum go from direct reading instruction to whole language and back again.
My experience has led me to believe the best reading instruction is a mix of the two. I must teach my students the basics of how to read before they can truly read. I need to show them there is a purpose to learning the letter sounds and blends. I need them to appreciate why we go through decoding words and repeated reading of those words. I try to build engagement and make the lessons structured yet fun. As the building blocks of reading are being laid, I model for them the enjoyment of reading stories. We learn what makes up a story and the students create their own through journaling, dictation, and drawings. As their skill in decoding builds, they are able to read short stories.
If reading instruction is taught meaningfully, the students engage and develop a love of reading.They will beam in pride as they lay on the floor reading to each other or a family member.
If only I could bottle their enthusiasm for reading now and send it to their future 6th grade selves!!!
My experience has led me to believe the best reading instruction is a mix of the two. I must teach my students the basics of how to read before they can truly read. I need to show them there is a purpose to learning the letter sounds and blends. I need them to appreciate why we go through decoding words and repeated reading of those words. I try to build engagement and make the lessons structured yet fun. As the building blocks of reading are being laid, I model for them the enjoyment of reading stories. We learn what makes up a story and the students create their own through journaling, dictation, and drawings. As their skill in decoding builds, they are able to read short stories.
If reading instruction is taught meaningfully, the students engage and develop a love of reading.They will beam in pride as they lay on the floor reading to each other or a family member.
If only I could bottle their enthusiasm for reading now and send it to their future 6th grade selves!!!
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