"Yah know how it is!"

During one of my many visits to our local primary schools I met a principal. He explained that he was greatly concerned about the poor reading levels of many students and was very eager for me to meet with teachers of his infant level.

Before speaking with his staff I was naturally interested in finding out just how his school was performing in that regard.

"Well," he responded quite proudly, " our school is recognized as one of the best in this area so we are doing quite well."

"But..." he added, "in every class you know you will get a couple who don't learn to read. Yah know how it is!"

A hearty laughter ensued.

I remained silent... oh yes, I know how it is.

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Just one thought.

You have twenty eager five year olds staring at you with wide-eyed anticipation on the first day of school. Now pick out the two who will never learn to read.

Go ahead, it's okay. It's just the reality of life right?

"Yah know how it is!"

Subconscious Behaviour

I visited a school about a year ago to show the teacher my Hop Along Reading Programme, however she was in the process of listening to one of her second year infant students read for her.

She directed me to a chair next to her desk and asked me if I could kindly wait until she was finished. I obliged but couldn't help but notice the reading activity that ensued. It went something like this...

TEACHER: Go ahead and read the page.
STUDENT: (Tentatively reading) The boy and the dog ...(silence)
TEACHER: went...
STUDENT: went up the...(silence)
TEACHER: tree...
STUDENT: tree and they....(silence)
TEACHER: saw...
STUDENT: saw a very big...(silence)
TEACHER: river...
STUDENT: river. Then they...(silence)
TEACHER: climbed...
STUDENT: climbed...(silence)
TEACHER: down...
STUDENT: down and got in a...(silence)
TEACHER: boat...
STUDENT: boat on the...(silence)
TEACHER: river...
STUDENT: river.
TEACHER: Good. Now learn the next page to read for me tomorrow.

Evidently the teacher behaved subconsciously. I wonder if she has ever thought about what she is actually doing?!

To Learn or Not To Learn - That Is the Question

How often has your child come home and you looked in their reading books only to see that the teacher has marked the word 'learn'. Now have you ever wondered what 'learn' actually means? Here are some possibilities...

1. Try to read the story, including words that you don't know (assuming that there's someone at home who is able or even willing to help you with the new words).

2. Read the story again and again so that you practically know it off by heart (a weekly recital perhaps?).

3. Get someone to read it to you until you can recite it from memory (again assuming that there's someone at home who is able or even willing to help you with the new words).

I'm not trying to be cynical but truly, can anyone explain to me what 'learn' on the page of a reading book really means?

And while we're on this topic...what does it really mean when an infant child is given a Social Studies note and also told to 'learn' it. I personally have found it quite a difficult task to get a five or six year old to actually learn a note! What's the real value of it any way?

To learn or not to learn - that is the question. Any teacher cares to explain?