FALL 2022 Missouri Reader Published in October 2022 | Page 41

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Creating a Positive Virtual Learning Environment: What Really Works?

by

Julie A. Hentges and Kristina Schuler

Conducting a Writing Workshop

Increased time to write with a focus on the strategies of pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing are linked to increased writing quality (Graham & Harris, 2016). Unfortunately, students tend to demonstrate a decrease in enthusiasm for writing from early childhood to middle school and high school, due to less time to write and less engaging writing opportunities (Graham & Perin, 2007) so it is imperative to engage students in workshops that are personally and culturally meaningful. We recommend that it should be evident that multicultural literature is being read, enjoyed and analyzed across the curriculum. Writing workshops provide opportunities for lively inquiry and discussion about texts with diverse characters, settings, and cultures (Alexander, 2018).

Conversations

Harry

Nickie Simonetti has taught reading for 50 years. Her experience ranges from Classroom Teacher to Supportive Education Program Director. Seeking an efficient approach for bright struggling students, and frustrated by their all too often tragic outcomes, she offers novel strategies and impressions in her first book, Smart Kids; Struggling Readers. Dyslexia Defused (Fall, 2021) which expands on the self-created methods and further explores the overlooked factors that contribute to reading failure.

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Summary

 

Repeated Reading, as a classroom practice, is an under-rated task. Most often, repeated reading is applied to enhance a fluid oral style. However, I suggest that in addition to improved fluency, repeated reading can be a useful tool to build background knowledge.  Furthermore, the expanded information fund will contribute to improved word identification and comprehension.

 

Resources

 

Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds: A Visual Encyclopedia Of The Plant Kingdom. 

Smithsonian, DK Publishing, Penguin Random House,  N.Y. 2019.

 

Repetition and Memory. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-7421(08)60464-8

 

Therrien, Williams. Fluency and Comprehension Gains with Repeated Reading.sage pub.com. 2004.

 

The Psychology of Learning and Memory. Hintzman. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 15. 1976.

Beck & McKeown. Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary and Instruction. Guilford Press, NY. 1991.

 

Paul & Norbury. Language Disorders from Infancy through Adolescence. Elsevien Mosby. USA. 2012.

 

Alexander & Jetto. Learning from text: A multidimensional and developmental perspective. n. Handbook of Reading Research, vol 3. 2000.

 

Castles, Rastle & Natuib. Ending the Reading Wars: Reading acquisition from novice to expert. APA PsycNet. 2018.

 

Juel. Read and Write: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Educational Psychology, vol 80. 1988.

Nickie Simonetti has taught reading for 50 years. Her experience ranges from Classroom Teacher to Supportive Education Program Director. Seeking an efficient approach for bright struggling students, and frustrated by their all too often tragic outcomes, she offers novel strategies and impressions in her first book, Smart Kids; Struggling Readers. Dyslexia Defused (Fall, 2021) which expands on the self-created methods and further explores the overlooked factors that contribute to reading failure.

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