A content-rich environment is a wonderful place to learn. The study of themes or topics in depth encourages students to become engaged in their learning, and provides the purpose for learning. Along with learning how to conduct inquiry, and learning about different cultures, environments, arts, and events, students must learn how to conduct research, read for information and understanding, and write and edit a sentence and paragraph. It is essential that the teacher achieve a balance between teaching the skills necessary at each level, and giving many opportunities to apply those skills to a meaningful content. Every classroom contains students of varying levels of proficiency in all subjects, sometimes a span of several grade levels.
Nobody becomes a better reader by reading material at frustration level.
The challenge for every teacher is to find the balance between giving instruction at an appropriate level in ability groups, and allowing each student to engage and learn from others in a group of mixed ability. Through her prompts as the student reads, she is drawing his attention to one or another cueing system. The most effective readers are those who are flexible, moving quickly from one system to the other, attending to meaning, listening to the language, and looking at the print at the same time to see if they all match. It is the teacher's job to make sure the student is using all the cueing systems in a balanced way. Answers to the FAQ's about Reading have been prepared by Dozie Herbruck , Learning Specialist at University School.