Hi! I am Nikiesha Charlene Noohar-Bisram. I have been a High School Language Arts teacher for close ten years now. My career started in the year 2000, when all students writing SEA were guaranteed a place in a Secondary School. This was the year “Education for All” was coined in Trinidad and Tobago. Throughout my career I have often met students who are faced with various literacy challenges. I have taught those who could not read basic sight words and those who could read the words but did not understand what they were reading. I have felt frustrated over the years because I did not know how to help them. Not surprisingly, literacy has always been a matter of interest to me. After attending workshops, I have tried strategies to help these kids, but I believe that I have met little success. My attempts have been random acts and I never implemented a formal programme that would help the students develop their literacy skills over time.
It was the birth of my son however, that was the impetus for my desire to become a reading specialist. I wanted to ensure that if, God forbid, he was faced with some form of a reading challenge, that I would know, in no uncertain terms, how to help him. I wanted to ensure that there would be no more random acts of trying to help kids with literacy challenges; that I would possess the knowledge that would be required to help them.
Lee and Neal (1993) state:
There are many students who struggle with grade level assignments and are forced to read at frustration level each school day...their reading skills improve little from year to year and in effect they fall further behind their peers. Some of them are labelled learning disabled and slow learners but the inescapable fact is that they have the potential to learn if they receive the appropriate instruction. (p. 276-282)
What does appropriate instruction really entail for a child like this???
Mrs. Noohar-Bisram,
ReplyDeleteIt has truly been a pleasure reading you post. I too have felt frustrated over the years as well because although I had a little knowledge on how to help them, to present it in a manner that they would like it was a problem to me. I also tried strategies to help these kids, but I did meet with little success. I have to say that at least now I'm beginning to understand a little about implementing formal programmes in literacy.
Hey Mr. Cadan,
ReplyDeleteYes we are being taught how to implement formal reading programmes in literacy, how to use technology in the implementation of these and other things. I find the book '50 Strategies' very useful. I'm wondering however, how come Psychology was not a part of our programme??? Clearly these kids would have various kinds of learning disabilities, and just having to deal with the pressure of their peers teasing them about reading might be harrowing for them. Would we not be more capable of meeting their needs if we possessed this knowledge?
Hi Nikiesha,
ReplyDeleteAt the primary level teachers are taught some basic teaching methods to assist the weak readers but I asked myself is this the appropriate instruction for these children or do we need to try something else. The reading problems supercede the strategies that we know so how then do we really know what to do. The SEA results sends a clear message about the high level of illiteracy.
Hopefully what we learn in this M. Ed. programme will yield its rewards in the near future. I also intend to employ all this knowledge about the teaching of reading with my two babies because just like you and I guess like every parent,we want them to be critical thinkers and readers. If only we could conduct workshops with parents to assist us in this battle of illiteracy. We will effect a greater change. Teaching not only involves the teacher and the student but the parents are important as well.
Though the challenges are many, it is important to determine the learners strengths and other systems of support. These systems of support will reduce the burden on one and establish the assistance the learner needs to become a functional adult. Some educators are able through the Reading Association of Trinidad and Tobago to make links to resource persons.
ReplyDeleteI have only been teaching for six years and I understand your predicament too well. With secondary education for all, students with various learning disabilities have found themselves in schools with teachers who have not been given the tools to assist them. They are then bombarded with a curriculum not fitted to their learning needs, resulting in frustration on the part of the students and the wider society wonders why juvenile delinquency is spiraling out of control.
ReplyDeleteBefore applying to do this course, I had tried just about everything with some of my students. Thankfully, the hand of God has led us to a place where we can implement change. I hope that you are ready for the challenge. I have no doubt that within your varied experiences you will become an innovator in the pursuit of appropriate instructional strategies for your students and I want to wish you all the best in your endeavour to become a Reading Specialist.