To demonstrate my understanding for this teaching standard I’ve included one of my papers written on learning to read about a video I watched during my latest pro-d day.
Professional Development Day Reflection:
Learning To Read
Of the provided professional development day resources, I found the two-part YouTube video series by The Purple Alphabet (2020) âIs My Kid Learning How to Read?â to give an insightful view into the strategies and methods used to help children develop their reading skills. Throughout this course, I have learned that the process of teaching children how to read involves many different strategies and views. L. C. Moats’ textbook, “Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers” (2020) has given me a wide framework for understanding the methods behind reading. As a teacher-to-be who has fallen in love with the idea of teaching primary grades, the topic of reading, both teaching it and learning how, is everywhere. The two-part video series by The Purple Alphabet (2020), highlighted the challenges that go into motivating, engaging and improving students’ abilities to read and greatly piqued my interest, tying in perfectly with Moatsâ (2020) writing.
The Purple Alphabetâs videos (2020) greatly showcase the importance of making reading enjoyable through fun, playful activities, a principle that Moats (2020) supports throughout her book by highlighting the need for student engagement. One of the main things I have learned throughout this course is that children are much more likely to learn effectively when they are both motivated and find the learning process to be enjoyable. The video seriesâ (2020) use of games and interactive tasks perfectly aligns with Moats’ (2020) recommendation to create an engaging learning environment, which in turn is crucial for maintaining a childâs interest in reading.
Moatsâ textbook, “Speech to Print” (2020), offers up countless strategies for overcoming common reading difficulties, such as decoding issues and lack of phonemic awareness. The two-part video series (2020) immensely reflects these strategies by giving practical, achievable solutions, such as breaking words into smaller parts and using repetition to reinforce learning. Both of these methods help children to overcome obstacles and build confidence in their reading abilities. The realistic portrayal of challenges and solutions in The Purple Alphabetâs (2020) videos helps both teachers and parents understand that difficulties are a normal part of the learning process and can be addressed with patience and consistent effort.
In short, the insights I gained from The Purple Alphabetâs (2020) video series, combined with the concepts talked about in this course, notably “Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers” (2020) have given me a rounded view and inclusive knowledge that I can take with me when I teach children how to read. The emphasis on engagement and creating a supportive environment creates a firm framework for fostering and nurturing reading skills in all children. By combining previous knowledge with practical strategies, both teachers and parents alike can help children develop not only the ability to read, but also start a lifelong love for reading.
References
Moats, L. C. (2020). Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers (3rd ed.). Brookes Publishing.
The Purple Alphabet. (2020). Is My Kid Learning How to Read? Part 1: Purple Challenge [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxx7hs0qdKQ
The Purple Alphabet. (2020). Is My Kid Learning How to Read? Part 2: Our Friend âUrâ (Reposted) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWgUvza6XyM