WHY I DECIDED TO BECOME A READING SPECIALIST
In the face of increasing illiteracy among the general population of Trinidad and Tobago, arising largely out of growing levels of educational disengagement and underachievement on the part of our male students, I decided to become a reading specialist to assist in providing solutions for this disturbing phenomenon. It is my intention to participate in a wider holistic campaign, as well as a to interface on a more personal level with struggling readers, to bring about interventions aimed at reducing and eradicating illiteracy in our nation.
To further this objective, as a reading specialist, I would like to pass on valuable knowledge (to which I am exposed in this Med programme) to other teachers, especially those in the content areas. This is in order to equip them to become teachers of reading, as they deliver their respective curricula. I am cognisant of the fact that content area teachers in general do not consider themselves to be reading teachers, and as such they believe that promoting literacy is not one of their roles as educators. There is a desperate need to overturn this mindset, so that teachers will become more flexible in their outlook and open to a paradigm shift, wherein they will embrace the requisite training and instructional strategies to scaffold students in their literacy development.
Finally, as a reading specialist, I would be facilitating my own professional development. During my years of teaching experience at both the primary and secondary levels, I have noticed that over time, students’ interests and learning styles have changed. This is in accordance with changes in technology and how this has impacted social networking and entertainment. Hence I hope to be able to cater for the needs of emergent and struggling readers in the twenty-first century.
So much of what you have shared I agree with. I particularly like the word you used: "phenomenon", it is also how I described the situation at our schools. I too am comcerned about content area teachers not considering themselves as teachers of reading and I hope to be able to change this attitude gradually. I think it will help to overcome some of the problems we are experiencing in schools.
ReplyDeleteHi Beverly,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your inspiration for becoming a reading specialists. I agree with you on the point of assisting teachers to understand their roles of assisting students to develop reading skills. I also point out that more must be done to research this 'phenomenon' for there are many people in the community who have an understanding of what is happening but their voices are not heard.