When it "Clicks," all is well in the world of decoding and easy comprehension. Reading is a joyful way to explore the world!
But when students encounter parts of the text that are not understood, they "Clunk!" and the reading process slows down.
Students can learn to recognize when their reading is Clicking and when they have encountered a Clunk.
When the Clunk is due to unknown words, follow these simple and effective steps to return to Click mode.
* Reread the sentence with the clunk.
* For more difficult material, reread the sentence before the clunk, the sentence containing the clunk, and the sentence after the clunk.
* Ask the student to substitute a word for the clunk word that might make sense in the context and continue reading. The student will usually be able to confirm the prediction with further reading.
* Substitute a word such as "candy" for the unknown word! Not only will this keep the flow of the reading going, but it will also lesson the student’s discomfort as a smile and chuckle result.
* Mark the clunks in the margin — repair by looking up in a dictionary.
* Keep a dictionary of clunks, using them in future writing assignments.
The "clicks and clunks" technique was originally introduced by Christine D. Bremer, Sharon Vaughn, Ann T. Clapper, and Ae-Hwa Kim in 2002. Read their original article here.
Dr. Kari Miller is a Board Certified Educational Therapist and Director of Miller Educational Excellence in Los Angeles. She began her career almost twenty-five years ago as a special education resource teacher. She has worked with students in a vast array of capacities, including special education teacher and educational therapist. Dr. Miller has a PhD in Educational Psychology and Mathematical Statistics, a master’s degree in Learning Disabilities, Gifted Education and Educational Diagnosis, and a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Behavior Disorders.
To contact Dr. Miller
Email: klmiller555@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.millereducationalexcellence.com
Phone: 310-280-9813