RAISING THE BAR: Literacy changes in the classroom

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - Getting your kids to fall in love with reading can be a challenge these days.

The ever-expanding digital world can be a major disruption to establishing good reading habits outside the classroom.

13 News’ Valerie Cavazos is kicking off her new education segment, “Raising the Bar”, discussing literacy changes in the classroom and how parents can help a reluctant elementary-aged child.

She spoke with Jill Cordova, a literacy specialist from the Marana Unified School District.

Cordova explained how reading instruction has changed.

“So, just like medical science has progressed over the years, so has reading instruction,” she said. “Scientists have learned more and more about the brain and how we learn to read. It’s not natural. You have to build connections and you have to teach a code. Basically, we need to teach students the code of reading English, and so, instruction has changed based on that new research and it’s more explicit, systematic, we know what we need to do for kids. And so it does look slightly different than maybe you or I learned to read.”

With the evolution of reading, is there a way for parents to best help their students with this new modeling and instruction?

“So, something very simple,” Cordova said. “A couple of things is, we, you and I, probably did weekly spelling tests, where we had a list we brought home and memorized, we no longer do that because we don’t want kids to memorize. We want them to know the phonics rules and why letters make certain sounds. And so, just knowing, asking those questions, why doesn’t my child have a spelling list? Asking the teacher so they can explain. You and I also might have had rings of sight words to practice reading and memorizing. Again, we’re going to teach kids the code. What are those letters, what sounds do they make, and match them up and then have them practice. So it’s reaching out and communicating with your child’s teacher, what can I do to help support you in the instruction?”

How important now is the parent factor in the equation?

“It’s important because we see a difference when kids come to school who have had rich language in their home and books and those who haven’t,” Cordova said. “But we also then work with the student where they’re at and we move them forward. So the parent is very important, obviously the most important thing in a child’s life, but as a school, we’re going to do our job too.”

Cordova also has some tips for the parent of a reluctant child, who just doesn’t want to have anything to do with reading.

“So my advice is to read to them, use audio books in the car,” she said. “You provide their reading because usually, the reluctant reader, there’s usually two reasons. Number one: Reading is difficult for them, which [for] some kids it is, so we, you, have to work through that. Or number two: They haven’t found what they love, so try all different genres, fiction, nonfiction, find what they enjoy, and then provide them access to it. So if they’re not able to read it, you read to them or [use] audio books.”

Cavazos will be delving into various topics in her “Raising the Bar” segments every Monday to help kick start each week with local expert advice on education.

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