EL 111 – CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT LITERATURE Discussion – Prelims # 1 September 5, 2022 CHAPTER 1: CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AS READERS ASPECTS OF READING Reading is not only the prerogative of language classrooms but is also an integral part of the whole education system. It involves different facets along with language. There are four major aspects of reading. A. Cognitive Aspect of Reading This aspect majorly focuses on the mental process and strategies, which are ingrained in the process of reading. It involves: Sustained Attention – focus and attention span while reading the content. Visual Discrimination - distinguishing between different letters and their sounds. Sequential Processing - understanding the pattern of words and sentence structure of the text. Visualization – creating a mental image of the content which is being read. we are able to recognize what is within we can appreciate it more 5. Planning – the pattern of reading the text according to its nature, for instance, the pattern of reading a newspaper is different from reading an invitation. take a look on how we are going to effectively understand the text we read 1. 2. 3. 4. B. Linguistic Aspect of Reading This aspect focuses on the nature of language, including the sentence structure and the process of meaning creation. It majorly believes in the development of the following skills. 1. Grapho-phonic Awareness – understanding the shapes of letters and the sounds associated with them. different letter comes from different size and different shapes 2. Semantic Understanding - comprehending the words and their meaning in the sentences. how we are able to recognize the meaning of each sentence 3. Syntax Clarity – understanding the sentence structure in different forms of texts. 4. Pragmatics – using context for comprehension. C. Social Aspect of Reading This aspect visualizes reading as a social process and tries to explore language-related inputs the family, school, and society provide for the development of reading skills of the learners. It explains that four major institutions affect the process of reading among learners. 1. Family – opportunities for reading are available in the family. learning start at home 2. School – space for reading for different purposes in the school. more subjects that give you a lot of space and opportunity to read 3. Society – the social and cultural aspects and their influence on children, for example, gender, and environmental sensitivity. 4. Print-rich Environment - opportunities available for the learner to engage with print and text in different contexts. availability of printed materials D. Psychological Aspect of Reading This aspect of reading is related to the psychological prerequisites for developing reading skills among the readers. There are various theories and explanations to elaborate upon this field. 1. Information Processing – the process of visualizing the text and creating a mental image of it to comprehend the same. 2. Schematic Approach – human memory is organized semantically, and it facilitates the reading process of the learners. 3. Age and Psychological Development – the age and psychological maturity of the learner also affect the reading ability of the learner. STAGES OF READING Stage 1: The Emergent pre-reader (between 6 months-6 years old) During the initial phase of the reading development process children sample and learn from a full range of multiple sounds, words, concepts, images, stories, exposure to print, literacy materials, and just plain talk during the first five years of life. Stage 2: The Novice Reader (between 6-7 years old) During the second phase of the reading development process children are learning the relationships between letters and sounds and between printed and spoken words. The child begins to read stories with high-frequency words and phonically regular words and uses emerging skills and insights to “sound out” new one-syllable words. Stage 3: The Decoding Reader (between 7-9 years old) During the third phase of the reading development, process children are beginning to read familiar stories and text with increasing fluency. This is accomplished by consolidating the foundational decoding elements, sight vocabulary, and meaning in the reading of stories and selections that the child is already familiar with. Stage 4: The Fluent, Comprehending Reader (between 9-15 years old) During the fourth phase of the reading development process, reading is used to acquire new ideas to gain new knowledge, to experience new feelings, to acquire new attitudes, and to explore issues from multiple perspectives. Reading includes the study of textbooks, reference works, trade books, newspapers, and magazines that contain new ideas and values, new vocabulary, and syntax. Stage 5: The Expert Reader (16 years old and older) During the fifth phase of the reading development process, the learner is reading from a wide range of advanced materials, both expository and narrative, with multiple viewpoints. Learners are reading broadly across the disciplines, including the physical, biological, and social sciences as well as the humanities, politics and current affairs. 5 EFFECTS OF READING ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT 1. Reading Encourages Play ✦ Entertainment is a large part of our daily lives. Adults and children alike tend to immerse themselves in television and movies, books of every genre, graphic novels, and radio theater. ✦ Diving into another world or living for a short period of time and exploring the possibilities gives people, young or old, the opportunity to rest and recharge. Reading gives our children the chance to explore outside of the daily routine, learn new things, and dream big. It gives them the opportunity to play. ✦ Finding stories that delight our children will encourage them to read. Choosing stories that they will find fascinating will draw them back to the bookshelves time and again. Reading to our children provides an excellent opportunity to laugh and rest together. ✦ Fun Tip: After reading a story to your child, act it out. From something as elaborate as staging a play for your family to a quick skit in the living room, acting out stories are a fun way to encourage play with reading. 2. Reading Develops the Brain ✦ Eighty percent of a child’s brain development happens in the first three years of his or her life. Children are like a sponge: they soak up information during this time. Reading is critical during these early years, as your children will quickly begin to learn new words and new concepts that will help carry them through the rest of their lives, and even set them ahead of the learning curve. ✦ Children who are reading are exposed to words that are not used in everyday conversation. For example, words such as “giraffe” and “savannah” are words that might only be discovered in a book. If a parent reads only one book of 200 words to their child every day, that child will have learned more than 400,000 new words by the time they reach kindergarten. ✦ Reading also improves a child’s concentration, allowing for better focus in class. Reading early and often is important for a child’s academic success. ✦ Fun Tip: Create a scavenger hunt sheet that lists various topics and genres for your child to explore. This will help ensure that a wide variety of topics is read and learned. 3. Reading Enhances Visualization & Imagination ✦ When parents read to their children, it further develops parts of the brain associated with visual imagery, comprehension, and word meaning. Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have shown that these areas of a child’s brain become active when someone reads to them. In children whose parents read to them often, these areas of the brain are more active than other children their age who are not read to daily. ✦ When reading sparks imagination, children begin to visualize things they have not yet experienced. They connect what they know in the world around them to the ideas presented in each story. Visualization is essential for interpreting the meaning or symbolism behind stories and is important for effective communication. ✦ Fun Tip: Connect each story’s elements to the world your child knows. For example, statements such as “This character has brown eyes like yours” or “Her grandmother likes to sew and bake cookies just like your grandma does!” can help your child visualize and understand new concepts. 4. Reading Develops Character ✦ Reading to your children teaches them about the world around them. Children observe through stories how they should respond to different people and situations. Children whose parents read to them develop emotional and social skills quickly and learn to effectively employ them in daily lives. Character development also occurs more quickly when they are read to from a young age. ✦ Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Reading stories, especially the Bible to our children, will teach them about the love of God and will strengthen their faith from a young age. Reading Bible stories will also teach them how to have empathy and how to love others. ✦ Fun Tip: Pick a book or Bible story to read, and choose a Bible verse that ties into the story for your child to memorize. For example, “The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks” could tie in with 1 Chronicles 16:34: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.” 5. Reading Creates Bonding ✦ There are a few things better than cuddling up with your child and a good book. Reading with your children demonstrates you are present and are going to be intentional about spending time with them. Being available to your child can grow into a healthy and trusting relationship with open communication. ✦ Research has shown that bonding between a parent and child is absolutely critical for healthy childhood development. Children who do not spend time with their parents or who are unable to bond with them are at greater risk for mental health issues and suicide later in adolescence. ✦ Furthermore, reading to your children creates the habit of spending quality time together. Children understand that if their mom or dad returns to something repeatedly, it must matter. When your child sees you returning to the Bible daily, for instance, they will know it is important! Reading to them as a habit will also help them to understand the value of stories. ✦ Fun Tip: Be intentional in scheduling a time each day to drop everything and read to your child. Eliminate all the distractions that could take time away from reading and spending time together. Create a cozy “reading zone” where phones and other distractions are not allowed.
