critically analyse the strengths and limitations of any two methods through which reading can be developed as skill among children
Answers
1. Using pictures, flash cards, charts, smartboard, etc. to depict a picture and asking the children to frame a sentence after reading the words or to read a short story in front of the whole class will help them in improving their reading skills.
2. It is a known fact that most of the successful readers are ardent readers. So, the teacher could stress on the fact that good reading will lead to good writing skills. The teacher could give a paragraph, a poem or a short story as homework for the children to read and they can explain it in their own words the next day. This will show how well the child understood what they have read.
Though these methods sound good and encouraging, it has its own limitations. It consumes a lot of time for the teachers as they will have to monitor each and every child individually. Also, the teachers will have to do a lot of research on how to decide on the analyzing scales, as it does not prove that the students who have lower reading skills are not intelligent students.
The following methods can be adopted to develop reading skills among children:
Direct approach
The child can be asked to read the same text again and again till he is able to read it in a fluent manner. He can read something which he likes and is familiar with. The teacher can set a reachable goal for instance 85 words per minute. In a class the students can be divided into pairs of readers who respond to each other. They can read in turns and evaluate each other's speed and fluency.
Advantage - The students can learn to read aloud fluently. There is active participation.
Disadvantage - It may not teach them new words as it is restricted to a certain piece. It may be boring to read the same text again and again.
Indirect approach
All the students can be asked to choose their favourite books or magazines and read for a fixed time every day. They can share their reactions to books with their classmates in peer discussion groups. This helps to develop positive attitudes towards reading.
Advantage - It gives the students a chance to discover the pleasure of reading.
Disadvantage - The same level of fluency may not be attained by all the students.