Thursday, September 20, 2007
The most important component of literacy...
I would say that comprehension is the most important aspect of literacy. I mean, whats the point of reading, listening, or much of anything if you cant comprehend? The ability to read or write is not nearly enough. To be able to read text and understand what you have just read is what really matters. Some might argue that the ability to just plain read is the most important part of literacy, but what is reading without understanding? Along that same thought, what good is being able to write if you cant make sense of what it is that you are trying to get out. Without comprehension even the most beautiful literary work would go unnoticed. Words on a page remain just that until someone gives them meaning. Ending with a little story about just how important it is to comprehend what you are reading....just before I was about to start writing this post I was texting my boyfriend telling (well, more like complaining) to him about all the work I have to get done this weekend. I got to this class and said that I have to post on what the most important part of literacy is. He sent a text back saying that I should write about comprehension because he said so. I misunderstood what he meant by that, and took it as him saying comprehension isn't a part of literacy. Completely missing the joke in it (that I should only write about comprehension because he said so) I made an example of myself showing just how important it is to comprehend what you are reading.
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I agree because what is the point of reading or listening if you're not comprehending anything. You can't do much of anything if you can't comprehend, even simple things like reading driving directions. Comprehension is part of everything we do, especially when it comes to educational values. I just read like a hundred pages for one of my classes, and I don't think I comprehended any of it and couldn't even tell you what I just read.
Hello Erin,
I think you have it right. I also believe that comprehension is the most important aspect of reading. As you mentioned, reading has no real value unless you take something away from it, and really, I believe the same is also true of anything we do. Listening to music, watching TV, attending class, doing research, and even living life – what’s the point unless we comprehend and learn something worthwhile from it all?
P.S.--I noticed by clicking on your name that you are a Pieces and a Tiger. You get plus points from me for being a Pieces and for also knowing about the Chinese zodiac.
That is a great story. How many times do we all read something quickly and change the meaning, not comprehend what is written until we slow down.
I too agree comprehension is such an important part of literacy. Without understanding it is just words, letters or symbols on a page.
When I read what Marisaann said, i thought of the saying in one ear and out the other... I get that from some of my students quite a bit and I know I have a tendency of tuning people out myself. I agree with the fact that comprehension is the most important part of literacy and my reasoning is simple, the action of reading or writing words does not necessarily push the reader or the writer to know what information might be addressing them. As an example, my nephew, Devon, now eleven had a reading assignment this summer where he had to read, write notes and understand the book. Though he has become a great procrastinator he was proposed a deal, if he read the final chapters in the book he would get a surprise trip for his birthday which we celebrated on vacation. As the deadline came up I sat down with him and asked him to read it out loud to me... he was just reading the words, so after something would happen I would have to stop him and ask him what he thought about what he just read since he wasn't doing it himself. Because I know that not all of us develop the same, how do you teach every child how to comprehend? When do we expect them to do it on their own? It sort of left me interested to find out when the develop this skill and how as teachers we can help promote their growth towards the subject of comprehension.
I have to agreed with you because evryone reads to understand something and be able to use your understanding of the reading.There no point of reading if can't comprehend the words or anything your are trying to interpret or get a meaning to what your are reading.
I am on board with that. However I think that being able to read a particular piece of info is as important as comprehending it. Understanding cannot even begin until one can make sense of the signs and symbols to intertpret there combined meaning. I believe that these two componets are equal in that literacy can't achived if either one of these pieces are missing.
I consider reading and writing to be base knowledge, but I believe without comprehension there is no point in even learning these skills. If there is no depth to what you read or no meaning to what you write, it seems silly to even bother. There is nothing more frustrating to me than when I'm trying to explain something to someone and I'm looking at a blank face. This is what it is like to not comprehend, so while knowing how to read and write are necessary, it is frustrating to watch and experience not understanding something that is being communicated.
I like your example. By typing out an example of comprehension you, in effect, created another example. You were able to comprehend something about communication, or the lack thereof, and describe it such a way that I was able to read your meaning and write this-which is another example of the same process....my head hurts...
I can definitely relate to your example. I too have a significant other who loves to text message. My girlfriend and I have had at least a dozen arguments or misunderstandings just because one took the other one's text message the wrong way. This just shows that comprehension is pretty much everything in literacy. Without knowing the meaning behind what you're reading, how could you truly understand it? Comprehension has became even more critical for our generation. With IM's and text messages, our comprehension must be at almost a higher level than previous generations.
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