Module 8 PowerPoint Response

Factors Involved in Reading and Writing Difficulties

As teachers we want our students to succeed in reading because it is the foundation for all other content areas. The PowerPoint pointed out that there are many different contributing factors for a struggling reader and writer. Visual processing can play a large part in why some students may struggle with reading. For example, a student may mix up the letters "b" and "d" because of their similar shapes. If a student is presented with the word "dad" and says "bad"they are struggling with letters of mirror images. The physical health factors can definitely play a part with struggling readers. I had the opportunity to witness this first hand during my student teaching experience. Many of the students lived in poverty, or what would be considered poverty. These factors contributed to many of their problems academically and behaviorally. 3 of 19 students in my class were on or above grade level in reading. One parent in my class was very involved in her daughter's academics and constantly put pressure on her to perform well on all assignments and tests. The student felt so much pressure she often acted out negatively in class for attention. Like the PowerPoint says, "It is important for the parent to be involved in their child's studies, but they should also be supportive and not overbearing."I believe all of the factors listed on the PowerPoint are things we should take into consideration when working with students that are struggling with reading and writing and try to determine the steps we can take to fix those problems. By using the proper strategies and working with parents, we can ensure our students become stronger readers.