Quote: "Teaching and learning take place in many spaces, and our students will absorb information unexpectedly and in different places... When students are in the classroom they will sometimes pay attention and sometimes not. Our students' attention and interest will ebb and flow in and out of our teaching. By bridging a gap between home and school, we allow them in far more" (Pahl, p. 49).
I really believe this quote and through our class discussions I have come to realize how important it is to teach literacy by relating it to what the children have already experienced and learned outside the classroom. Children come into the classroom with different experiences from home. They learn just like we do, by building on our previous knowledge. So why not connect home and school to help the child understand and pay more attention to what we are teaching. Students' attention and interests in the classroom will not be constant and that is why we also need to have a variety of lessons that relate to what they are experiencing at home. Pahl's chapter is also very relative to what we should do before guided reading. That is, to activate previous knowledge before reading. This is very important! It will bridge the gap they may have with what is in the book and excite them to read something they can understand, enjoy, and ultimately feel like a successful reader!
Question: As a teacher with an ell student, should you have them read the same books that are in the guided reading center even if the books are not relative to them and their home experiences? Or, should you have that child read books that they will more fully understand and be able to relate to?
in response to your question, I would definitely have the ell student read books that are more relatable to them. That way they actually connect with the reading and hopefully enjoy it. Especially if the ell is an emerging reader, I think picking books that are more relatable will build their confidence in reading. Once they become better readers, I would branch them out by giving them books that dont relate to them as much so they can learn about new things and experiences. I totally agree with you on the quote from the book. we need to unite home and school and bridge that gap so students will be more successful!
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