Comprehension is a thinking process. It is a creative process that varies among individuals. When people read the same text they may not walk away with the same outlook or information. Because every individual does not have the same background knowledge, are reading for different purposes, have different fluency levels, are at different reading levels and responded differently to text, people comprehensions are different. Different comprehension strategies help people who comprehend differently.
There are eight different comprehensions strategies. The strategies that I use the most are visualizing, identifying the big ideas and monitoring. I believe that I visualize the text because I am a visual learner. Like Tompkins states, I place myself in the story. As a result one of my favorite genres to read is realistic fiction. This is because it is easier for me to place myself in a story that could really happen.
As a child and still to this day, I consider myself not a very strong reader. Due to this fact, it has always been important for me to underdertand the big ideas so that I do not get lost within the text. I find it hard to remember everything within a text. This creates a problem because I am very good at summarizing what I read however I am not as good when it comes to making connections or looking into deeper meanings.
Because I do not always comprehend what I read, I often have to monitor what I am reading. Ways that I most commonly monitor myself is by asking or researching background knowledge. If a story does not make sense from the beginning, it is difficult for me to become interested in it. I also try to make note of what the story reminds me of, in regards to my life and my experiences. By having this personal connection I am able to remember and comprehend more. Last because of my lower reading level I will often ask myself if I understand the words I am reading. This is most commonly the problem with me comprehending what I am reading.
Learning about the different factors that influence comprehension and strategies that people use to comprehend, helped me learn a lot about myself. Knowing the factors that I lack in, also show me what I need to focus on as a learner. Also it reminded me that as a teacher, not everyone is going to comprehend material the say way that I do. Overall this chapter was helpful.
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4 comments:
I agree with a lot of you said in your blog. I feel that comprehension skills are something very important to take into consideration in every subject with every student. If you better understand yourself chances are you are going to better understand others.
Bridget- I'm interested in what you said about knowing what you need to focus on as a learner. I wonder if any of the comprehension strategies we've learned could help make you a more confident reader. I also wonder what it would actually be like to try to change around the comprehension strategies you use... I feel so set in my ways I'm not sure I could.
Bridget -- I can understand how not feeling confident on a subject area makes you feel, but I like that you want to use what you consider to be a negative as an opportunity not only to improve your own skills, but as a catalyst to understanding where your future students may be coming from. I feel one of the most powerful tool an educator has is their ability to dissect where their students gaps are in understanding so you can support them and get them over their own hurtles. Understanding personal struggles, helps one understand how someone else may feel working on the same thing. I applaud you for wanting to use an area you have viewed as being your weakness in such a beneficial way.
I agree with Adia. I always try to learn new things and do things that I'm not good at or uncomfortable with. If we only practice what we are good at, we lose a lot of perspective and a great chance to get first hand experience looking metacognitively at our learning processes.
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