EDMI 422 Middle School Literacy False Assumptions of Content Area Teachers

Assumption 1 Students have learned to read in elementary school. Fact: Not all students leave elementary school as a proficient/grade-level reader

Assumption 2 Students have sufficient prior knowledge to cope effectively with the important information in content textbooks. Fact: Most students have limited prior knowledge in content areas and lack experience with using textbooks to gain comprehension.

Assumption 3 The processes involved in reading and comprehending efficiently in content textbooks are identical to those utilized in reading from basal readers in elementary school. Fact: Basal readers focus on “learning to read”. Textbooks focus on “reading to learn”. These are very different reading processes.

Assumption 4 Content reading means teaching phonics and other skills not directly related to their subject areas. Fact: Content reading means gaining knowledge necessary to comprehend the particular content/information. It does not include teaching phonics and other reading skills. Though, if your students are not reading proficiently in order to understand the content, these basic skills may need to be taught.

Assumption 5 Teachers are information dispensers. Fact: Teachers should be facilitators of learning. Research shows that students best learn when they are PART of the learning.