I have found so much of this information extremely interesting because I can directly apply it to how I learned to read. When I was learning to read, my school switched from teaching strictly phonics to strictly the whole language approach. I was unable to learn how to read using the whole language approach. I had such difficulty with this approach that I was removed from the regular classroom and privately taught phonics. I do not think that this intervention was fast enough or efficient enough. Although, now I love to read, I still have a very difficult time sounding out unfamiliar words and spelling. I still have difficulty understanding how letters work together to create certain sounds. I was never diagnosed with a learning disability; I was born prematurely, which I have read can cause developmental delays in the brain. At a certain age, it seemed that learning just starting “clicking” for me in terms of math and reading. So, based on my own experience, I agree with the article we read on LD Online that a balanced approach is best when teaching children to read. A strong foundation in phonics with whole language methods is a better approach to teach ALL children to read.
I was extremely interested in all of the multimedia videos linked to the website as well. I think it is so fascinating to learn about the brain and how the brain communicates the input it receives from the world. The video about rewiring the brain is especially of interest to me. I found it to be extremely hopeful in terms of where the field is going. The brain is extremely plastic. It can be trained to strengthen different connections and pathways between the different parts of the brain. The concept of being able to rewire or train your brain is extremely empowering.
I was surprised to see the amount of activity there is in the right hemisphere of the brain in people with dyslexia. It is so interesting that when they read, the words are actually decoded completely different than others who do not have difficulty reading. Linear reasoning and language functions such as grammar and vocabulary are often lateralized to the left hemisphere of the brain where as functions such as the processing of visual and audio logical stimuli, spatial manipulation, facial perception, and artistic ability seem to be functions of the right hemisphere. This is a very interesting perspective to look at learning disabilities.
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I agree with you about the switching from phonics to whole language techniques was very confusing when we were learning to read. I never considered myself to be a strong reader either. I also love to read, but still find myself sounding out words or making up my own pronunciation for a name in a story that I just can not sound out. When I started teaching reading last year I would often have to ask the speech and language pathelogist at our school about certain pronunciations of letters and sounds to make sure I was saying them properly. Kids just learn reading a whole different way then when we did in grade school and it is sometimes hard as a teacher to reteach yourself a basic skill such as reading in order to teach your students.
ReplyDeleteI actually had a student last year who we thought suffered from dysleixa but was never diagnoised. He would always switch around word order when he was talking and his letters would never be in a straight line or in the right direction. He would often write his name in a circle shape on the top of a paper. We had to stencil his name on the top of his papers and have him trace them every morning as a way to teach how to write his name on a paper.
I think the balanced approach is the best approach to teach reading too. Like Katie said, everything is much different now from when we were learning how to read, and all these new techniques and ideas are very interesting. Since I do not teach reading myself, I'm unaware of a lot of the new information. Reading these articles and watching the videos has really opened my eyes to how students are learning.
ReplyDeleteI also really enjoyed all of the videos. I agree with you, the concept of rewiring the brain is a crazy and empowering thing, and the fact that we are learning new techniques to do it just blows my mind. The author with dyslexia was a very empowering story, it just goes to show you that with the right instruction, anything is possible!