Orlando Case Study

The support that educators give emergent reader can help build confidence in their abilities as well as foster and enjoyment for reading and literacy. Allowing the student to create their own meaningful experiences when reading stimulates and opens the door of opportunity to learn key components of literacy.  In Orlando’s case study, Orlando is a student who enjoys coming to school and is eager to learn. As the educator being able to include his love for drawing and he works well during small group activities I can incorporate theses attributes in the strategies to meet his goals.  

Comprehension is the ability to understand what has been read. Comprehension is important foundation to all emergent readers so they can begin to read with purpose and gain a better understanding of the text. The tips for implementation that were in the star sheet to help Orlando with comprehension are, predicting, summarizing, retelling, rereading and questioning. Since Orlando is a child that likes group activities, allowing him and a few children predict the story by scanning the pictures and speak on what they believe the story is about. If done in a smaller group setting Orlando can gain knowledge from his peers. Summarizing by shrinking of the paragraph can aid Orlando in understanding the main idea of what they are reading. This can help Orlando hone in on the “Who”, main chararacter and points of the story. Retelling allows the students to retell the story they have already listented to. Being able to utilize the “look back” strategy to encourage Orlando to physically look back and turn the pages to find the answer the questions that his teacher asks. Orlando will be able to gain confidence and excitement to read through rereading a familiar book to him or even during a small group activity.

Since Orlando enjoys drawing and allowing him to include drawing in his learning will make it fun for him. Since he does like to draw Orlando seems to be a visual learner. Graphic organizers will help him visualize the book in his own pictures. This strategy when implemented first as a small group activity that is teacher-directed will help him gain a good foundation. So I the educator after reading the story could use a graphic organizer and use language such as “can anyone draw for me, who is the main character in the book?” or “Where the characters in the mall or the woods? Can someone come draw what they think for me?” This can get the children moving and actively engage them in the story.

Repeated reading of a familiar text helps to increase reading fluency. A fluent reader has developed automatic word recognition skill, which allows more focus on comprehension. Studies show that children asked more questions and engaged in more dialogue when they listened to repeated readings of the same story. Pappas (1991) When implementing repeated reading, keeping the passage short allows the children to maintain their engagement and interest. Allowing time for group reading where the teacher reads the passage line-by-line as a model while students follow is a great way to model tempo of reading and build upon their understanding. Since Orlando is a very active child in the classroom and he likes to participate, maybe having the children act out the story they are rereading will engage him.

With the implementations of these above strategies Orlando should be on the right tract to meeting his 3 goals. One goal for Orlando to be able to read a passage that is on his instructional level and be able to retell main events. His practice with graphic organizers will help him master that goal. The second goal of Orlando being able to employ the comprehension strategies predicting, summarizing and questioning; his practice with all of the above in different settings will boost his confidence and allow him to feel comfortable when retelling and rereading. The last goal of Orlando being able to read a passage and retell the main components of the story; with his practice at graphic organizers and repeated reading will help him meet his goal. By the end of the year Orlando should be reading and comprehending on par with his peers. Will the help of the educators and plenty of support from his parents his emergent reading skills will blossom.