Double Entry Journal #9

Chapter 1: A strange fact about not learning to read. 1. What is the strange fact about not learning to read?

The strange fact about learning not to read are that the students that have the most trouble learning how to read are those that come from a poor or minority background.

2. Why is this fact so strange?

This is strange because a person's "social class" should not take a toll on a student's ability to read and/ or ability to learn how to read but instead the classification of these students is having a negative effect on their learning/reading ability.

3. What is it about school that manages to transform children who at good at learning things like Pokeman into children who are not good a learning?

The idea of Pokeman is like a game to the students rather than a skill that they are learning. Most students view "instructed" learning as more difficult and less exciting therefore they cling to what excites them and feels uninstructed.

4. What is the differences between a traditionalists approach to learning to read and more progressive educators?

Progressive educators lean more towards a meaning based structure approach towards reading while traditionalists practice overt skill based instruction.

5. Is learning to read a natural process like learning to speak a language?

I feel that although some may think that reading is a natural process but reading is not a natural "almost genetic" process such as language or learning to speak is. There are many people who do not know how to read but can still verbally communicate their feelings and thoughts therefore I believe that reading is not a natural process.

6. What is the differences between natural, instructed and cultural processes and which process should reading be classified under?

In a perfect world, reading would be a natural process and all could read at some point once they have established a basic understanding. An instructed process is that, that is taught rather than genetic or tool based. Reading should be classified under a cultural process because reading allows students to collaborate with the necessary tools in order to provide them with the most effective learning tool.

7. How do humans learn best? Through instructional processes or through cultural processes? How is reading taught in school?

I feel that humans learn best through a cultural process because actually doing what you are learning provides for a better understanding. I feel that reading is taught in school on a more instructional level with a little bit of a cultural process involved such as reading aloud, etc.

8. According to the author, what is the reason for the "fourth grad slump."

The reason for the fourth grade slump is that a students academic failure to bring language towards school. Hand in hand with the students comprehension of the material they are reading and being taught.

9. What is a better predictor of reading success than phonemic awareness?

Semantic and syntactic skills also involving early reading and language ability are better predictors of reading success than phonemic awareness.

10. What is the difference between "vernacular" and "specialist" varieties of language? Give an example of two sentences, one written in the vernacular and one written in a "a specialized variety", about a topic in your content area.

Vernacular language is a language that is common and used on a everyday basis while specialist language involves special learning activities or assignments.

11. What is "early language ability" and how is it developed?

Early language ability is beginning prototypes of academic language that starts at home rather than the classroom.

12. According to the author why and how does the traditionalist approach to teaching children to read fail?

The author states that the traditionalist approach to teaching students how to read is failing due to each child's ability is not considered and that reading is not starting at a young enough age.

13. Are parents of poor children to blame for their children's inexperience with specialized varieties of language before coming to school?

I feel that this question really depends on the circumstances given. Sometimes the parents of the "poor" children do not contain the knowledge themselves in order to hep their children therefore the children are inexperienced with specialized varieties of language prior to entering the classroom.

14. Did you struggle with reading this text? Why? Are you a poor reader or are you unfamiliar with this variety of specialized language?

I did not struggle with this text. I feel that my process of learning to read started at a young age as my parents are both avid readers.

Gee, James Paul (2012-10-02). Situated Language and Learning: A Critique of Traditional Schooling (Literacies) (p. 17). Taylor & Francis. Kindle Edition.