Page 69 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

As proficiency with language development skills increases, so will a person’s reading skills. Specifically,
reading skills improve by:

• building vocabulary — being able to define and apply words
• decoding communication — putting meaning to words and symbols (so that you understand

them, not just recognize them)
• understanding syntax — properly using and grouping words in sentences
• identifying semantics — recognizing the meaning of speech forms and grouping of words
• identifying context — understanding that words have different meanings in different contexts

Table 3.1 Language Development Skills

Skill Area Building Decoding Understanding Identifying Identifying
vocabulary semantics context
communication syntax
Defining Recognizing Identifying
Pattern Word meaning cultural
recognition recognition
background
Specific Skills Practice Assigning Proper use of Recognizing
and usage meaning grammar connotations Identifying
historical
Using Recognizing Proper use Using background
contextual symbols of sentence rhetoric

cues structure

Reading Methodology

This chapter will focus on the Reading Methodology. Reading is one step in the process of joining ongoing
conversations with authors. You become part of that conversation when you read and discuss published
sources, and again when you write your own analysis and reflection of those sources. Good conversations
can continue for years and produce solutions to many thorny issues.

While being able to read faster may improve your reading performance, building speed is not the main
concern of this chapter. More important is that you are able to comprehend, retain, and apply what you
read. For many students, the bottom line is that they would benefit greatly from simply retaining more of
what they read.

What is a Methodology?

Many students work part-time retail or restaurant jobs to help pay for school and living expenses. If you
have ever worked at a store, chances are you have learned how to close out a register at the end of the day.
Let’s look at how you learned the closing procedure. A methodology is a step-by-step model for performing
complex processes. The steps are presented in a logical order to complete the task or process at hand.

Chapter 3 — Reading Methodology 63