This
morning I was struck by an article about the challenges of being a
teacher. Immediately I flashed back to a teacher I had who was
determined that I would learn to read. Not just read words, but READ
and comprehend what I read.
How
can anyone teach someone to comprehend? Go ahead, pause and develop
a lesson plan that teaches comprehension. So, does your plan teach
or simply explain? Is explaining what a word means the same as
teaching comprehension?
What
I learned as a young child that has stuck with me forever is a simple
fact that if I cannot read and comprehend what I read, then I will be
extremely challenged in all other subjects. The school system uses
reading to teach all subjects. Yeah...we have to be able to read and
comprehend what we read in order to learn all subjects based on the
method of delivery the public school system uses.
There
are those who resort to pictures to learn by. They must read the
picture in order to comprehend what it is "saying". Have
you ever purchased one of those put-it-together-yourself
in-five-easy-steps projects? Yeah....and do you go to the diagram
because the first step says:
1.
Holding part C in your left hand, insert the yellow cord in the slot
provided and wrap it loosely about the end that is touching part A in
your right hand.
This
is fun!
We
all know that to comprehend what we read is to fully grasp all there
is in relationship with the meaning of the word. Knowing what words
mean is extremely helpful. So, we have to develop a thorough
vocabulary. In developing a vocabulary, we can comprehend the
meaning of a word if we increase our vocabulary so we can comprehend
each word in the meaning and the meanings of all the words that
describe it. This is exhausting! Can we really teach a child to
comprehend? I read some place that the reason reading is so
challenging is that the public schools do not drill vocabulary
building as it was done ages ago when I was going to school. The
reading is simply 'reading words' and the child, in time will
self-develop and gain greater insight of the words read when able to
visualize what is read. This I like but I do not agree with the
concept.
We
humans store knowledge visually. So, why not go to the picture
first? Eliminates the need for learning the meaning of so many
words! How silly this is. Mrs. Wellman alerted my teachers that I
didn't understand what I read. Little did I know this was going on.
But I soon realized that at any moment, anyone in the school would be
asking me questions about stuff that was meaningless. It didn't take
too long before everything had meaning. I was beginning to see
things that weren't there. I now know that I was developing my brain
to visualize the full concept of various things. Someone could
mention something as simple as 'roller skates' and a picture of
skates comes up. I now know that I see the skates in detail just by
hearing the word. So, how do we teach reading comprehension?
The
Webster dictionary states that synonyms for the word 'comprehend'
include the following:
appreciate,
apprehend,
assimilate,
behold,
catch,
catch
on (to),
cognize,
compass,
conceive,
cotton
(to
or
on
to),
decipher,
decode,
dig,
discern,
get,
grasp,
grok,
intuit,
know,
make,
make
out,
perceive,
recognize,
register,
savvy,
see,
seize,
sense,
tumble
(to),
twig,
understand,
and pick up on.
When
a child, or anyone, is able to mentally process a word using the
above traits, the child can fully comprehend what is read. Oddly,
those are the synonyms, the words that have the same basic foundation
as 'comprehend'. The same dictionary states that the antonyms for
comprehend, the words that have the opposite meaning are: hang on
now.... don't laugh.... the antonym for comprehend is: miss.....
yes... you either comprehend (do all the above) or you miss. Now, can
we teach a child to comprehend? Yes we can. Mrs. Wellman and the
entire staff of the school taught reading comprehension, not just
reading.. I have been blessed. I would have been labeled learning
disabled in today's school system. That stuff was frowned upon when
I was a child.
ADHD
(Attention Deficiet Hyperactivity Disorder) started out as ADD
(Attention Deficit Disorder). In my opinion, ADD became the label
that permitted the 'system' to not spend time teaching. I was ADD.
As less time was spent teaching, a broader brush was needed to
encompass more students who weren't learning. So in comes the ADHD.
It started with a child that just stared at the wall because he/she
"missed" understanding a word, thus the written statement
had no meaning, or the child was attempting to 'make a picture' of
it, thus staring into space; and soon began acting out, so now is
'hyper' and now we medicate. Once we label a child, we ultimately
re-enforce that label by behaving toward the child as though it is
real.
I
didn't plan on getting on this tract, because it is very involved and
includes but is not limited to parental authority, diet, etc..... I,
me, who could not read, still am challenged and must make the dialog
a visual image. I managed to obtain a Master's in Education and my
thesis was on "The Antiquated American Education System and
ADHD"; who would have figured? That one curled some eyebrows at
the time. No, I don't have all the answers, I just know that I would
have been one of the medicated students that started the day with a
bowl of cereal and sugar, then near mid-day a sweet treat, then come
home to more empty calories. I thank Mrs. Wellman for teaching me
and all those that came in my path from that day forward.
Yes,
teaching is a most difficult job. Teachers nowadays, as far as I can
see, are not permitted to teach the average student. A few selected
students get into the specialized courses, but they get there because
they can comprehend. The average student does not have that
opportunity any more. The public school system has not changed in
hundreds of years. We still write on the wall of the cave and
regurgitate what we have written which we got from someone else. The
student sits and stares at the writings on the wall and is expected
to comprehend, automatically.
Heavenly
Father, giver of Life, the Great Physician, Teacher of All, thank You
for the time You have granted me to walk Your earth. Thank You for
placing people in my life who care for You and others as You have
taught. Father, I am so grateful that You were permitted in the class
room when I was a young child. Please be with all the teachers and
education authorities as they strive to 'teach' the child that has
difficulty learning. Please be with the children and help them to
comprehend the big picture. Help them to see the unseen. Thank You
Abba for Your kindness and love. In Y'shua's name I praise You.
Shalom
and shalom,
Pinchas,
a/k/a Frankly Speaking All The Time
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