Literacy instruction is giving students and adults a tool to live with comfort and move up to higher education in school. Learning to read requires systematic instruction in sound-symbol connection and acquisition of the love of reading. And also this instruction should be considered from a critical stance. Every material written by a human being is reflecting the perspective and knowledge of the writers which might leads readers to their own benefit or interest. Readers should build a critical view on the reading materials. As a teaching method, teachers should consider learners experiences, cultures and socioeconomic status as well.
In class, readers should learn to use different reading approaches according to their purpose of reading. To find information, readers could use skimming and scanning. For reading for pleasure, learners should check how well they follow the story line. To help learners to read better, teachers could use three steps: into reading, while reading, and after reading. Before reading, learners' schemata will be touched to connect with the reading materials and while reading, learners could expand their linguistic knowledge like vocabularies and content knowledge, too. After reading, learners could check how their prior knowledge has been updated and how their reading purpose was fulfilled.
Writing goes hand in hand with reading. It is "an outlet for self-expression" (p. 191) which human beings should have. English learners should acquire sound-symbol principles, practice simple frame sentences to move up to a higher level which express their thoughts and feelings including many academic assignments. Especially many academic assignments require high quality writing abilities. Therefore, to improve writing ability is integral part of education. Writing something is voicing our own thoughts not to copy others and be an echo. So learners should be cautious not to plagiarize.
Reaponse to Sohee Kim
As Sohee mentioned, the "writing workshop" is quite interesting process which can help students writhe more enjoyably and confidently. "This process approach involves several stages: planning or prewriting, writing, and feedback and editing." (Diaz-Rico, 2008, p. 196)
I think especially the "prewriting" process is very important because some students feel they have nothing to write or nothing in mind. While students listen to others' experiences, plans, thoughts or read related stories, articles, students could have something to write. The individual difference should be considered as Diaz-Rico mentioned. "The most profound education reaches deep into the individual and , in reaching deeply, evokes emotional reaction. Teachers who respect this passion sympathize with its companion emotions. The alternative? Apathy." (Diaz-Rico, 2008, p. 196)
Response to Wooje Joe
Wooje Joe suggested interesting in-class reading activities on reading and writing. As he suggested, reading should be integrated with activites especailly fun activities because "learning to read in one's own language requires not only systematic instruction in sound-symbol connection but also acquisition of the love of reading, an intangible gift that is passed from one avid reader to another" (Diaz-Rico, 2008, p. 167) When fun activities are added into an instruction, students will have positive memories related with reading instructions which will help them to come close to books.
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