This semester I am observing in a third grade class and, as with
most every school, once a week these students prepare for the NJASK. Many times they do readings and those readings
are followed by questions that refer to the story, essay, narrative or poem
that they have just read. These
booklets are collected and usually the teacher gives them to me to grade. I
have noticed that many students are careless in their work. They do not read directions. They often just completely miss the point
of the excerpt they have just read. They
do not seem to be able to answer the comprehension questions correctly,
especially went they are asked to respond to open-ended questions. I never see
the teacher give reading instruction in any of the areas in which the students
seriously need help. The comprehension problem continues to exist.
Welcome to Spring Semester
Monday, March 18, 2013
Kourtney is concerned about student comprehension
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Hi Kourtney,
ReplyDeleteI would talk to your cooperating teacher about this. I think she would appreciate you telling her your observations. Some strategies you could show her and the class are visuals like the Somebody Wanted But So reading chart http://wvde.state.wv.us/strategybank/Somebody-Wanted-But-So.html
My specialized reading professor always encouraged us to use the Teacher's College Columbia running records to for assessments. This had been a problem in a third grade, as well as a middle school class that I had observed last semester. Also, my professor showed us how bookmarks can be made to track reading comprehension. Meghan
Hi Kourtney
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the children are being bored with the material, knowing that they are preparing for a test. If this is the routine everyday that they are doing there is nothing for them to get excited and engaged about. The teacher has to notice what it going on once she starts reviewing the questions after the reading. I think she should try a different approach on the comprehension. If students are not engaged they will lose focus.
Jaquel
Hi Kourtney
ReplyDeleteI would definitely speak to your cooperating teacher about this. It will only become an issue when the students are actually taking the test and have no sense of comprehension. It seems that comprehension is the students weakest point, so the teacher should focus more on that section. During my observation, I did noticed,comprehension was the weakest point throughout the second grade level when they took their unit assessment based on the common core standards. Teachers have to warn students to read the directions carefully. I noticed by the students making an graphic organizer in class was helpful, but this can become a problem when the students are being timed. This is practice for them so it will become easier when they take the test, so the teacher should immediately take a different approach for the students to comprehend the story better.
Hi Kourtney,
ReplyDeleteI definitely think you should mention something to your cooperating teacher. Maybe as you grade papers, write at the top the specific issue that's happening with the students work. Then after you're done maybe pull the teacher aside and let her know who got what wrong. This way maybe she can implement a strategy in the classroom or further tell her students to read directions and follow them. In my class I'm observing I usually write at the top of papers I grade if a student forgot to do something. Then I'll tell the teacher, and she'll usually pull the student aside and have them finish or redo the problems. Hope this helps!
Nicole