Read the following passage:
Hocked gems
financing him, our hero defied the scornful laughter. Think of it as an egg,
not a table, he said. Then three sturdy sisters sought proof, forging over vast
calmness, and sometimes over turbulent peaks and valleys, until at last welcome
winged creatures appeared, signifying monumental success.
Answer these
questions about the passage:
1. What are the
hocked gems?
The hocked gems are something that is of value that was taken from
the main character.
2. What should
we think of as an egg and not a table?
We should think of valuable things as fragile like an egg, and
that these things may not always be around.
3. Who are the
three sturdy sisters?
The three sturdy sisters signifies a metaphor over problems with
money. People can become very stressed in certain financial situations. In
life, there will be calm times as well as turbulent, tough times.
4. What kind of
winged creatures appeared?
I think the winged creatures are birds flying overhead. These
birds represent hope. There may be stressful times in life, like financial
problems, but in the end, everything will be okay.
If I were to use this passage in my first grade classroom, I would
first have to introduce the pronunciation of these words as many of these words
would be too advanced for them. From there, I would pull from their schemas
what they know already about these words. I also would have them look at the
context, and I would have them view how these words are used in the sentences
to determine meaning from the text.
If the children’s schemas do not match the content of the text, I
would work to develop the students’ schemas. A student’s schema is built upon
experiences and exposure to topics, so I would work to introduce a new text
that may not match the schemas in my classroom. Introducing them to the words
and the experiences that go with the words through discussion, pictures, and any
physical movements that may coincide with the words will help develop the
students’ backgrounds of the topics.
I think that some time should be used in texts that do not match a
student’s schema. I feel that a schema can be developed through reading things
that a student is not familiar with. I think this should be incorporated more
into a small group time where discussion can take place if a student does not
have the background to understand a certain part of the text. I feel that
independent reading time, where a student is reading on his or her own should
focus more on the student’s interest and schema, so that the student is fully
comprehending what he or she is reading, as discussion of things the student
does not know would more than likely not be taking place.
I find it so interesting to see how differently we are each interpreting the same passage. Just like our students, we each have differing schemas that impact the way we find meaning in text. I liked what you said about helping our students develop a schema when it doesn't previously exist. If a student doesn't have the necessary schema to find meaning from text, we must provide them with knowledge and experiences to create that schema. What are some ways we can provide those experiences in the classroom? I love the idea of using videos and pictures for students to visual the lesson, which I think will help to develop the schema or background knowledge needed.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the ways in which you would introduce this to your students in your classroom. I, too, was very anxious when I started reading it because I could pronounce the words or make sense of any of it. Can you imagine our little kids? I think that schemas and building background knowledge is essentially the foundation that we must create with literacy instruction. Great ideas.
ReplyDeleteI too find it very interesting to read how our interpretations of the passage differ. I loved how you interpreted the "winged creatures" as birds flying overhead a setting which represented peace and hope. As educators, it is important to understand the variety of backgrounds students come from. In order to truly peak their interest, it is important to gain background knowledge and plan lessons accordingly. All in all, I though your interpretation was insightful and interesting!
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