My Daily Experiences and Pedagogy

Reading means understanding something which is written. There’s no reading if there’s no comprehension. This process in not just up to uttering written text in which we termed as oral reading but decoding printed words.

In my own experience, my mom exposed us to books at early stage. We learned to love reading at young age because my mom is a reader. There was once that she told me that she wants to take a rest. But when I entered their room I found her reading a book. I was surprised because I thought that she’s sleeping!

How Children Learn to Read

Why not follow these good steps?

1. Parents should choose books with simple concepts to encourage children to read (e.g shapes, color, texture, size etc)
2. When reading, point pictures and names. Allow your children to do the same.
3. Make your home a book-rich environment. Teach them to love books.
4. In choosing books to read, let the interest of your children be their choices (e.g. planets, animals, objects, sports, games, cartoon characters, Disney characters etc)
5. For young and beginners of reading, picture books are perfect for the.
6. Children can make their own choice but parents should be the one to decide that’s according to the level of child’s comprehension.
7. Help your children become successful reader by talking, listening and reading together. That’s what we call as interactive reading.

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What is an interactive reading model?

Teaching Reading from an Interactive Perspective

Are you aware of the so-called visual talking or VT?

Visual Talking is making use of images or pictures to convey messages. Utilization of any photos which can relate to the words used is applicable. As long as the images used connects to each words then it’s fine. You’re now making your own VT message using your own pictures!

It’s termed as “visual talking” because conversations can happen visually.There’s no oral or uttering of words to converse. Looking alone the series of pictures can allow you to create a sentence or thought to express!While sending or making VT message can let the people understand what you’re trying to imply or what you think. There’s no conversation happens if there’s no responses, right? Visual talking is a form of conversation though it’s not done aurally. Exchanging of ideas and feelings is possible like normal chat with a friend!

VT is helpful to people who can’t speak. It’s also a way of letting young or beginners of reading to learn how to read. Pictures convey meaning. We, teachers in Elementary Education should employ illustrations when teaching. Learners in primary and elementary level can understand better with the help of visual aids. So, VT can help children to read. However, they should not be taught by pictures alone. Teacher should do the right thing to teach children how to read. The basics should be taught like learning the sounds of each letter, learning how to pronounce consonants blends etc.

I did try to make my own VT message and it’s cool! It’s fun also to converse using only images! Hmmmm I think it’s romantic to use this kind of messaging to your lover (^_^)

Click the box below to see a sample of Visual Talking message.

Toys and other stuffs for children are instruments in molding themselves. Playing for children is of course a source of fun but unknowingly they are learning at the same time! Parents should know the right kind of toys to give to their children. For lower years, it’s best to give them soft and flash toys. The characteristics of these toys will then help these young mind to understand basic shapes, color, texture etc.This will help in enhancing their motor skills. For higher ages, it’s good to give them stuffs to play with which are a bit complicated like blocks and a train with rail roads to build.This will help develop analytic skills, mind alertness and proper brain structure.

At the proper age, parents can somehow introduce to their children books and reading as well. If kids can understand or recognize pictures they’ll surely enjoy bed time stories. Start in doing simple ways. Your children will love reading if you expose them to reading materials at home.

As children grows, parents and guardians should understand that their kids are building their own interest in life. Parents may give toys that they can afford to buy and provide them everything but it’s not good of you restrict them to choose what they want because it’s one way of building self-interest, self-confidence and self-identity.

We should be aware of the Declaration on the Vital Importance of Toys.

Child’s world exploration begins in playing with toys.

As we continue to study and live life we are acquiring ideas and knowledge for learning is a life long process. Even if we didn’t go to an institution to educate ourselves, learn the law of science, math,grammar and other subjects we still have the capability to learn.

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