When I am reading, I find myself in a world other then my own. I get so focused and forget where I am that it can sometimes be a bad thing. My approach to literacy has been defined through my struggles in my academics. It does not matter what I am reading, I am guaranteed to have to read everything a few times. With light reading, usually I just start to lose my place on pages when I am tired but cannot put the book down. When I am reading with more substance, I need to read and re-read. I typically read with an internet connection just in case I cannot figure out what something is. While this is not something I share very often, it has become a very important part of who I am. As a good student, people assume I just get it and it does not take work but the truth is my grades are always from hard work. As a mother with a child with learning disabilities (ADHD and Dyslexia) my struggles have become a way to help my daughter. I am able to see better ways to do things and of course different ways to look at things.
I am a huge fan of technology in learning. I am a kinesthetic learner and followed by audio. So just reading print makes me struggle. My daughter has the same issue and both of us find that using audio while reading it greatly increases our comprehension. While reading, I actually start reading to myself. Literacy is essential but I believe in classrooms the traditional eyes on paper will soon be no longer. Not everyone learns that way and to allow students to be successful and become prepared for college, I believe flexibility and allow students to learn the way they need to will be imperative. The unfortunate part of the common core, it appears to me the parent that we are removing that individualized learning that is really needed for success. I believe in letting the teachers teach!
Nice deliberations. As a visually oriented person. My reality of literacy is varied and I often re-read over and over. It may be related to our persona learning styles.
ReplyDeleteI find sitting in silence in general never goes well for me. When I am working and need to be focused, music has to be playing. I get so much further and in courses that I have been able to listen to a lecture I find I can recall what has been said so much easier.
ReplyDeleteIt has always interested me how people learn differently. I have to have it completely quiet to really be able to focus. I would be all over the place if I heard music playing while I was reading (I would probably get up and start dancing and forget I was reading). ;)
ReplyDeleteEven still, I too have to re-read a few times especially when it comes to text books. I'm constantly stopping to think about what I've read and almost explain to myself what it meant to make sure I got it, then I write down something briefly to make sure I really got it. It's definitely a lengthy process but we all have to find what works for us. It's sometimes a little trial and error. This is also the essence of what literacy is: it's about adapting; it isn't about just having skills and abilities, it's also maintaining and practicing those skills and continuing to expand those skills.
I also agree with you that individualized learning is getting more and more difficult particularly in age when it seems to be more crucial. It seems that there is an aim towards a "cookie cutter" education and everyone should fall into these nice neat molds. Anyone in education knows that this isn't further from the truth. I like the way Ignacio Estrada said it best, "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn."
That quote was just used at back to school night and I cannot agree with it more!
DeleteI do dance in my seat to the music... I don't even notice it to be honest. Some would say I have a bit of ADHD or as I like to call it Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS). So if my body is moving without conscious thought my mind can focus. We have found my daughter who does have ADHD diagnosed does well if she has a wiggle cushion in her seat at school even in the 4th grade.
"Shiny Object Syndrome" love it! :)
Delete