Text Comprehension-When Middle Schoolers Need Help

Common problems with text comprehension and how to combat them:

First, not every student comes from the same background, so students from different cultures may not have the same background information to help them understand a story.  A teacher can remedy this and level the playing field so to speak, by spending some time talking about information relevant to the text or a history of the author (for example learning about slavery before reading a book by a former slave).  The teacher could also make a K-W-L chart to help students organize their thinking before reading a text.  It will also lay out all the information that the class knows about the subject, so every student will have access; it makes knowledge more tangible.

Second, students may have trouble comprehending a text due to complex or unfamiliar vocabulary.  Therefore, it is the teacher's job to examine a text before handing it out to the class and to pick out vocabulary words that he or she anticipates the students will have trouble with.  The teacher should then spend a portion of the class teaching the students these vocabulary words (perhaps using a word scroll or Frayer example)

Third, students may have trouble staying engaged while reading a text.  In this situation, a teacher may consider doing a read aloud/ think aloud.  As the teacher reads a text out loud, he or she can ask the class questions concerning the text (have them make predictions etc).  This will more actively engage students and teaching them strategies for reading.  It also enables the teacher to clarify parts of the text that may be difficult.  Here is an example of how a teacher might conduct a read aloud:

Another way to achieve a deeper comprehension of a text, is to create creative assignments for the students relating to the text.  In the next example, a part of Romeo and Juliet is performed as a rap.  This forces students to think about the text in a new way and ultimately to enhance understanding.

Bottom Line: Engage your students and help them to appreciate literature!

ELA Teaching-What I've Learned

This semester I have had my first real introduction to teaching ELA, and along with learning teaching strategies, I have learned more about middle school learners in general.  Specifically, my eyes have been opened to the fact that not all middle school students are proficient readers.  Unfortunately for these students, I think that not enough teachers are prepared to deal with actually teaching students how to read. For example, teachers often don't realize the ways that they are making sure students comprehend the text are outdated or ineffective; asking the students questions that don't require a close reading of the text.

Making sure all students are able to comprehend a text goes with my definition of ELA: Teaching students how to read, interpret, learn from, and comprehend literature.  Wanting to share my passion and appreciation of literature with others is the reason that I chose this field as my specialty.  It is my hope that through my motivation I can provide a positive learning environment for students and thus make them more motivated and receptive to learning.  Interpreting and comprehending literature is a skill that will be carried on throughout the rest of the students' lives and therefore it is especially important for teachers to help students make sense of the sometimes daunting subject of ELA.