From: Gwendolyn Ahyoung
Profile of a Reading Specialist
As a reading specialist my expectation is to become a resource to other educators especially the classroom teacher in her daily literacy instructional practices. By working collaboratively with school personnel I hope that the needs of all students will be met as quality research-based programmes are developed and implemented. The lack of literacy skills among the nation's children is a situation that needs to be addressed urgently. The male student population in large numbers are part of this equation, which have extended from the primary schools to the secondary schools and even to tertiary level. Their lack of literacy engagement has resulted in very negative behaviour that has impacted the education system and our country. At present too many of our students are at risk of failing at both the primary and secondary school systems.
Our students need committed teachers who are suitably equipped to deal with the challenges that reading problems present in the classroom. These teachers must be supported adequately by their principals and in extension by reading specialists so that their classroom teaching will be evidence based and suited to the needs of all types of learners. I want to be able to assist teachers in assessing the literacy development of their students and also in planning appropriate instruction.
Lifelong learning is our goal as educators for the nation's children, and my desire is to be the instrument or tool that will make that objective a reality. I have witnessed too many children leaving the primary school system ill-equipped to handle literacy activities at the secondary school level, and know that many of them have faltered along the way. I believe that the process of eliminating the crisis begins at the primary school level, and so I want the opportunity to be a part of this important event.
hi lyn thanks for the comment
ReplyDeletei luv the name of your blog as it is a title i had thought of as well. i think you need to have passion especially to motivate students where reading and literacy is concerned.
as the song says it only takes a spark to get a fire burning.
that is why i really believe that the internet can be that spark to motivate young people today to want to improve their reading and writing skills but i know it is not a panacea for all the ills--good instruction and assessment go hand in hand.
i still enjoy the thrill of turning the pages of a book that you just can't put down. holding a book to read at least for me is not the same as watching a screen but we have to meet the young where they are to get them where we want them to be