Experienced teachers are familiar with the complaint "I read it but I didn't get it." This is true at most levels, from the average student to students taking advanced placement classes.This is also true despite the millions of dollars spent by textbook companies to make content appealing to the student. There are ways for teachers to address this need without adjusting content.
The Physiology of Learning
On several occasions over the past ten years, Dr. Gail Donahue, the Administrator for Professional Development at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney Maryland, has gone through the physical process of learning. Hundreds of teachers have benefitted from her insight.
Dr. Donahue's ideas are based on extensive research that indicates students receive new material through the "front" of the brain, and that most knowledge is quickly stored in the "back" of the brain. This stored knowledge can be recalled, but only if the student has enough of a "recall trigger." Her advice is to use a variety of oral and physical activities to bring data back to the front of the brain, and then to use the data to formulate concepts.
The student should "read last," according to Dr. Donahue's findings. In a History class, for instance, students should go through the section before the students read the section. At the beginning of the chapter, students can discuss a timeline or list of objectives. In each section, the teacher can make sure the students comprehend any highlighted words before they read. Analyzing maps and pictures, and accessing prior knowledge can provide students with "anchors" they can use to easily recall information.
When the students are processing the information after reading, recall games can be used. One activity Dr. Donahue specifically mentioned was tossing a small ball around the room. The student catching the ball would formulate a question (intellectually more challenging than providing and answer) and toss the ball to another student. That student would either answer the question or be guided to the correct answer, and would then formulate his own question. That student would then toss to another student and ask the question.
Using Dr. Donahue's suggested pedagogy, the student has now dealt with the material three different ways using different sensory input. The student's increased familiarity with the data and facts can then be channeled to more effective analysis and greater academic success for the student. Teachers who are interested in more information should consult the PD 360 website.
Using Reading Pedagogy
Teachers in all subject areas can use methods that elementary and middle school reading teachers use, the only problem is that there isn't much well focused training in these methods. Most states require licensed teachers to take reading in the content area courses as part of their certification, but these courses generally do not teach specific reading lesson plans.
The Catapult Inc. educational company of Philadelphia has developed research and methods for using specific reading skills in high school subjects. Teachers who are familiar with phonics and part-whole reading plans can use these to help student’s master vocabulary. Using plans such as KWL (what do you Know, what do you Want to know, what did you Learn), students can learn how to effectively process content themselves.
Another effective reading plan that can be used by other teachers is the Directed Reading and Thinking Activity. This is more of an in class activity, it involves brainstorming prior knowledge followed by guided reading in class. But students can be taught how to brainstorm common concepts in class and then read while taking notes to be assessed by the teacher.
Other strategies are available at the Reading Strategies website.
All teachers should be providing incentives for students to read and comprehend text material in connection with their lessons. To effectively meet this objective, teachers should go to resources that specifically address reading strategies that create interest among their pupils. Ms. Donahue and the resources under the PD 360 program have found effective tools. Reading teachers can provide many resources germane to this goal for the interested teacher.
Donald Marchand - Currently, I am a teacher. I teach Social Studues at a small school in southern Maryland. But I think I've been a lot more in my life. ...
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