One of a Kind

Each child is unique and has a distinct way of learning. When setting up classroom lessons, it is important to engage in conferences with each student and meet he or she “where they are”. After getting to know your students individually, providing appropriate literacy lessons can be more beneficial to their growth.

One way to help struggling readers is to learn how reading works.  Teachers can take the time to research different theories on how children learn and how best to help them succeed in the classroom. The brain works in complex ways. Furthermore, there are inner processes we cannot detect working in the brain. However, there are some external aspects teachers can look out for and help each student navigate. According to Catching Readers Before They Fall, students use multiple processes to comprehend information. Some of these processes include self-monitoring, visualizing, and making connections to background knowledge.

Lev Vygotsyky’s philosophy on literacy also supports the theory of “meeting children where they are”. By modeling what we would like our children to learn during lessons, they can start the process of becoming fluent in their own right. Also, providing room for the children to discover meaning in the lessons will allow for a gradual release of responsibility while working with the students Zone Proximal Development.  Vygotsyky’s theory on Zone Proximal Development not only takes the pressure off of children to compete against other students in the classroom, it also helps the student reach other heights in literacy in a comfortable pace customized for their level. During this process, the student explores learning with the teachers help. Therefore, knowing where your student is academically is imperative to helping them succeed.

Another way to implement different strategies for Zone Proximal Development is to incorporate a comprehensive literacy framework. According to Catching Readers Before They Fall, teachers can use various strategies to benefit their students. For instance, incorporating sessions such as read aloud, shared reading, and guided reading can propel students. Also, writing lessons such as morning message, and community writing can complement and connect students to the reading lessons. These lessons and more can guide students on a path to more independent reading and writing.

            Once lessons have been implemented to help students excel, there will be many opportunities to not only meet them where they are, but also to see “where they can go.” This progress allows students to see where they have come from and that they have the ability to move forward confidently with their learning.