Say What!!!!

Dear Reader-

How many times have you read something, and just had a hard time comprehending? Sadly, to say this happens to me sometimes, especially when I am reading non-fiction. Now let me add, I read it with fluency and intonation, not having any difficulty with the words, but the information just did not sink in. I might tell myself that what the author had to say, might just have been boring, but here I am not being truthful to myself. The fact is that this genre is difficult, especially without prior experiences that I can relate the information too.

As I am sitting through a Science workshop this summer, I am thinking about non-fiction literature. I am thinking about how important these science investigations are to children. The reason I know this, is that when I begin reading a non-fiction children's books about solids and liquids, I can hear my past students' voices in my head. I hear them telling me, I remember when we did that and then proceed to explain the science that occurred. For example, they tell me that those crystals that are found on the dish, is rock salt because the water evaporated from the solution. You see, my students visit me and then I see them looking around the room to see what they remember from their years in 3rd grade, and their eyes light up when they see the science materials that are found on the counter.

Going back to the workshop, I read that story as a child thinking about the students I have had, and how much information they could comprehend as they learned about solids and liquids. Why? These children had the background knowledge, they understood the terms because they experienced them. They touched, manipulated, observed, discussed and used the terms, with this insight, they could apply it to what they were reading. It makes sense to them. We might think it is play, and maybe a lot faster to just tell them the information, but it might not be as deep. I wonder how much of this "deep" information we take with us when reading? I wonder if our experiences can affect our comprehension? Deep inside, I think it can, as I read today with a child's eyes. How much do our experiences impact our comprehension?

-Maria Creighton