Research Questions What is the importance of improving reading skill? 2

Micro-teaching Observation form
Observer: Group:
Observee: Learner’s level:
Date: Topic of the lesson:


INTERVIEW(data collection2)
Q: Are you certified to teach reading?
A:“Yes, I am currently a reading specialist. However, I will be taking my teaching certification exam in six months. I’ve been working as a reading specialist for five years now and feel confident that I can successfully transition into a classroom setting.”
Q:What are some of the most effective strategies you use to help learners improve their reading skills?
A:“I find that the best way to help students improve their reading skills is by giving them a lot of practice with different types of reading materials. I assign my students daily reading exercises where they read aloud, read silently and answer questions about what they just read. These exercises help students build up their reading comprehension and vocabulary while also improving their fluency. Another strategy I use is having students read out loud to each other so they can provide constructive feedback on one another’s reading.”
Q:How do you handle learners who are resistant to reading or don’t seem to understand the material?
A:“I once had a student who was having trouble understanding the concept of figurative language. I noticed he was very good at writing and creative thinking, so I decided to try an alternative approach. Instead of teaching him about all the different types of figurative language, I asked him to write a poem using metaphors. He ended up loving poetry and became quite good at identifying figurative language in his own work.”
Q:What is your experience with using technology in the classroom?
A:“I believe that technology is an essential tool for learning. I have always made sure my students have access to computers and other devices so they can complete assignments and research topics. In my last position, I was able to get all of my students iPads as long as they were responsible with them. This allowed me to incorporate more digital resources into my lessons.”
Q:Provide an example of a time when you had to help a student who was struggling with reading comprehension.
A:“When I first started teaching, I had a student who was having trouble understanding what he read. He would often miss questions on his quizzes or tests because he didn’t comprehend what he read in class. To help him, I gave him extra time during our lessons so that he could reread sections of the text if needed. After doing this for several weeks, he began to understand the material better and improved his test scores.”
Q: If  you had to create a reading curriculum for your class, what topics would you include?
A:I believe the most important thing for students to learn when reading is comprehension. I would start by teaching them how to read words and understand what they’re reading. Then, I would move on to helping them comprehend more complex texts. In elementary school, I would focus on basic comprehension strategies like predicting and questioning. In middle school, I would help students apply these strategies to longer pieces of literature.”
Q:What would you do if you noticed a student was reading a book that was too difficult for them?
A: “I would first ask the student what they thought of the book. If they said it was too hard for them, I’d look up the book online to see its reading level. Then, I’d check our school library to see if we had any books at that same reading level. If not, I’d order some from our district or other libraries so that all students could access books at their appropriate levels.”
Q:When is the best time to start teaching reading skills?
A:“I believe that children should start learning to read as early as possible. I have found that by starting in kindergarten, students can build confidence with reading skills before they even reach first grade. In my last position, I started teaching phonics and sight words in September, which gave me plenty of time to practice new skills and review old ones. This helped students feel prepared for first grade, where they could apply what they learned in kindergarten.”
Q:What is the best way to encourage your students to read?
A:“I think it’s important to make reading fun for kids, so I always try to find books that are interesting and engaging. For example, when I was teaching third grade, we were learning about animals in our science class. One day, I brought in some nonfiction books on different types of animals. The kids loved looking at the pictures and reading about the animals they learned about in class. They also started asking me if they could bring home more books from the library.”

Q:Which reading strategies do you find most effective when teaching students?

A:“I find that using graphic organizers is one of the most effective ways to help my students understand what they read. I usually have them create their own graphic organizer as they read so they can take notes on important information and write down questions they have while reading. This helps them remember key details from the text and think critically about what they’re reading. It also gives them an opportunity to ask me any questions they might have.”
Q:What do you think is the most important skill for students to learn about reading?
A:I believe the most important thing for students to learn about reading is comprehension. Reading is all about understanding what’s being read, and if students don’t understand what they’re reading, then they won’t be able to retain any information or apply it later. I always make sure my students are learning strategies to improve their comprehension when reading.”

OPEN-ENDED(CLOSE-ENDED)QUESTIONS (data coll1)
Open-Ended Questions to ask Before Reading the Text
1.Looking at the cover, what do you predict this book might be about?
2.What detail on the cover supports that prediction?
3.What do you think will happen in the plot?
4.What ideas do you think will be present in this text?
5.Can you please describe what you think the illustration on the front cover is trying to tell us?
6.Why do you think the author used this title?
7.Why do you think the author used this type of font (style of letters) on the cover?
8.What do you already know from reading the title?
9.What connections can you make after reading the blurb?
10.How do you think this story will end?
11.What is a problem that you think could occur in this story?
Open-Ended Questions to Ask During the Reading
1.What time of day do you think it is in this story?
2.Why do you think it is that time of day?
3.What connections can you make to this setting?
4.What would you do if you went to this place?
5.Do you think you would enjoy being here?
6.Why do you think the author started the story/text this way?
7.How are you adjusting your predictions after reading this (page, section, chapter)?
8.What sentences parked your imagination?
9.How do you think the character is feeling? What evidence supports your thinking?
10.What could happen to make this character feel a different way?
11.Which details were the most interesting to you?
12.What questions do you have now?
13.How did the setting change?
14.How does the setting impact the plot for these characters?
After the Text
1.What do you think the author hoped you would think after reading the text?
2.What do you think about the story/text?
3.Can you summarize the text in just two or three sentences?
4.What was your favorite part?
5.Was the plot/text different than you thought it would be?
6.What would you change in this text if you could write it?