Reading Fluently

Reading was the first academic skill I learned and once I learned how to read, read I did.

I could read the same book over again in the same way i can now listen to a single song on repeat.

Sometimes I could have four to five books open at the same time, spread out all over the floor, like so many windows and tabs on a computer screen.

Other times I would read a complete series beginning to end much like binge-watching on a streaming device.

Reading fluently is the first fundamental skill developed that helps with success later in school.

While organizing for the new year I came across a booklet given to me nearly 20 years ago (Most likely early 2002) in it was the following quote: "Reading failure has exacted a tremendous long-term consequence for children's developing self-confidence and motivation to learn." by Susan B. Neuman and it reminded me of just how important reading is to education success.

Much has changed since then yet the importance of reading in education remains a priority to all educators, though much of the burden falls on the shoulders of those in early education, but with 75% of California students scoring near or below reading standards (CAASPP 2018) it is worth reminding all education advocates to keep reading front and center.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2019.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Thoughts on Language

Reading & Writing

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

As we approach the close of the school year, it is worth taking a look at the language development of our learners, language development in the skills of reading and writing.  We do this by looking at the definitions of Language, Reading, and Writing, and applying these definitions to the level of skill that our learners have develop and can demonstrate.  We do this for the purpose of studying what we, as educators, have taught our learners.  We do this to see the growth that our learners have done, so that it may also be seen by learners, educators, and others who have worked in the language development of our learners.

Language

We define language as the communication skills developed by learners.  These skills are diverse and developed differently by each of our students.  Each learner arrived to our classroom this year with a unique level of language development.  By now, those students should be at a higher language development level than they were at when the school year started.  Their communication skills should have increased as our students learn from us this year.  Two important language skills to focus on are reading and writing.

Reading

Reading is a communication skill that we develop by having access to diverse material that is age and grade level appropriate.  It is also developed by introducing and increasing the vocabulary of our learners.  Students should be able to read material that is suitable for their age and grade, and be able to show that they understood and comprehend the material they have read.  Reading is an essential skill for students to develop for most of the information and knowledge which we have is accessible as reading material.  It is because of this that reading should be matched with writing.

Writing

Writing is a communication skill that we develop for the purpose of expressing our thoughts and ideas so they may be presented to others for evaluation, interpretation, and clarification.  Technology has allow us to no longer limit our writing skills to calligraphy and penmanship.  We are now also in need to develop typing, formatting, and printing as new language writing skills.  Writing becomes reading material, and reading material in turn inspires writing.  It is because of this that reading and writing should be amongst the primary language skills that our students should develop.

Copyright 2012.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Language and Communication: Reading

"Language and Communication"

"Reading"

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Defining Reading
Reading is the complement to writing.  If we define writing as a tactile visual form of communication, then reading is a visual tactile form of communication.  Writing gives us the skill to express our thoughts and ideas in a concrete way for others.  Reading gives us the skill to receive the thoughts and ideas that others present in a concrete way.  Reading allows us to input information into ourselves so that we may process and analyze it, then determine its value by studying it.

When to be Reading 
Since reading is an input, it can be done from the moment we begin to sense that which is around us.  Infants feel, hear, see, taste, and smell all that is available to them as they begin accumulating information.  We can become so skilled at reading that we could do it at a very fast pace, completing complete writing collections of a rich cultural diversity.  We can get to the point at which we begin to compare what we have read, with what is available for reading, and try to balance or surpass this point.

How much Reading is Good
 If we were to immerse ourselves in reading throughout our lives, we could possibly accumulate all knowledge available to us, but we would have no time to write, and share, and bring our light of clarity and understanding,  to that which we have read, accumulated, and understood.  Since reading and writing are complementary, both skills together should measure our ability to clearly and accurately communicate to others our thoughts and ideas through these two skills.

Why should we be Reading?
Reading provides for us the skills of searching, collecting, gathering, and analyzing information for our need to seek out knowledge and understanding.  We should be reading to better ourselves.  We should be reading to have a diverse amount of knowledge, that we have classified and categorized, on which we can make clear decisions and good choices.  Developing our reading skills gives us a way to connect to information, and the information that we connect to will lead us to a rational decision making path from which our lives will benefit.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved

ELL Challenges: Communication

English Language Learner Challenges

Communication: More than Translating

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

An obstacle faced by English Language Learners (ELL's) is communication.  Communication is more than translating.  Translating from one language into English is one tool that students who are ELL's should use in developing their communication skills.  Translating is one tool that ELL's can use for communicating.  Pronouncing, Speaking,Writing, Reading, and Grammar, and are other tools that ELL's can use to develop their communication skills in addition to Translating.  With a combination of these skill developing tools, students who are English Language Learners can better their communication skills in the English language. 

1. PRONOUNCING: This skill helps the student hear the phonics of the English language.  If the student does not hear clarity in the pronouncing of English, the student could misunderstand the correct sound.  The student then would adapt the unclear phonics into their speech development.  It would then require that the student learn the correct pronunciation, and remember not to pronounce the phonic in the improper way.
2. SPEAKING: Having a foundation in pronouncing English sounds and words leads to the development of speaking skills.  As the student is developing pronouncing skills, they should also be developing their speaking skills.  As the student learns, pronouncing should lead to speaking words, and expressing thoughts and ideas with some clarity.
3. WRITING: With the base of having develop the ability to pronounce and speak, the student is ready to begin writing in English.  Writing helps the student create the link between what is heard and said, with what is seen in print.
4. READING: When the student sees a word that is printed in English, the student interprets the writing, speaks it with correct pronunciation mentally, and if necessary, the student  should communicate verbally so that others may hear.
5. GRAMMAR: The student should learn the rules of the language to develop their English communication skills in a successful manner.  It is in developing grammar skills that students will refine sentence structure, essay development, and fluency.

Copyright 2012, MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.