I have taught more than 60 kids on a one on one basis since 2004 to find out why many smart kids are unable to read in English but could read in Malay (which uses the same alphabets as does English.)
I have discovered that kids predisposed to shutting down disengage from learning to read when they are confused.
Kids get confused when the initial input (what they learn initially) does not reconcile with what they learn subsequently.
Many teachers around the world teach alphabet sounds wrong as a result of which kids shut down.
In 2010 I challenged the more than 35 -year- old – theory that phonological awareness deficit is the cause of kids being unable to read. That theory was subsequently debunked. You may read one of my articles by searching for ‘Dr.Joe Torgesen vs Luqman Michel’.
The first thing I would do is to teach letter sounds the way it should be taught. I have written 3 articles on my emails to and fro Sue Lloyd – a Phonics proponent- and I will be writing a few more to her as well as to another member of Reading Reform Foundation UK.
Please read my posts at http://luqmanmusings.blogspot.com/
I can see this is a real passion for you Luqman but I am not a teacher of any kind … I merely wrote about a poem saying that the eduction curriculum needs to include more practical components like dealing with emotions, fixing a car … I have no clue about how to teach or help kids who shut down … good luck with all that you do!
“Schooling is the nightmare of reality”. Yes, it was a night mare for all my students who are sent to me for tuition on a one on one basis because they are unable to read in English even though they can read in Malay and ‘Pin Yin’ (Mandarin written in Roman/Latin alphabets).
After about one month of 3 hours a day with me they enjoy going to school.
About 30% of kids shut down from learning to read in English because of the confusion as a result of faulty teaching.
This nightmare for many smart kids will continue until teachers begin to realise that the nightmare is caused by their faulty instruction.
Please read my facebook post today by a mother whose daughter came to me a year ago unable to read a single sentence. My FB is open to public and can be assessed by clicking my name – Luqman Michel
That post was unsolicited and 3 days ago I happened to meet the mother by chance.
Hi Norah, are you in Australia? Which part? My husband was born in New South Wale, came to the US when he was 12. Among his family members, we were the first ones traveled to Australia. ❤
That was the first place we went when we started our travel in 2002. We arrived in Sydney, visited Bondi beach, toured the opera house, went to see an opera, climbed the Harbor bridge, visited my husband’s aunt in Blue Mountain, then we went north, I think we passed by Brisbane and went to Caine for Great Barrier Reef diving, went to Port Douglas, and Cape Tribulations. We like it very much, and I bought many black opal pieces!
That was a great adventure, Miriam. I think you’ve done more than I have. I haven’t climbed the bridge, nor have I been to Cape Tribulation. I’ll be visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time in July to attend a wedding. I wonder will we venture near to your Aunt’s home. 🙂
Yes, Norah. I was younger when I studied Child Development. Now I learned more related issues. I had many positive ecperience during my daughter’s early years. Through my volunteer counseling, I learned that many of the adult issues go right back to the early years. So this is not just book issue, It’s really life issue.
Yes, Norah, many studies show that Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) contributes the major cause for emotional destruction in adults. All the female clients I have could trace back to that cause.
I think the Mexican kids benefit most from the State Head Start program. It’s only for low income families. Normal income families are not qualified. Those families don’t do a whole lot at home to converse with little ones. So at least the kids get something from the program. I can’t say too much without getting into politics.
That’s right. We don’t want to get political. It is the low income families that tend to need the help. They don’t always understand the value of education.
When I taught parenting classes, they were the one who said we couldn’t afford to send the kids to college whereas the Asian parents tried to find the best college loans.
Well done on trying something new. I am sure you will have great success and enjoyment from your blog just as my girls had great success and enjoyment from you teaching them .
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ouch says it all Norah … so you would agree that the system needs reviewing?
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I have taught more than 60 kids on a one on one basis since 2004 to find out why many smart kids are unable to read in English but could read in Malay (which uses the same alphabets as does English.)
I have discovered that kids predisposed to shutting down disengage from learning to read when they are confused.
Kids get confused when the initial input (what they learn initially) does not reconcile with what they learn subsequently.
Many teachers around the world teach alphabet sounds wrong as a result of which kids shut down.
In 2010 I challenged the more than 35 -year- old – theory that phonological awareness deficit is the cause of kids being unable to read. That theory was subsequently debunked. You may read one of my articles by searching for ‘Dr.Joe Torgesen vs Luqman Michel’.
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I think it could do with a bit of renovation.
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I’m wondering if two stream might help … the career focused and the creative/practical stream?
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The first thing I would do is to teach letter sounds the way it should be taught. I have written 3 articles on my emails to and fro Sue Lloyd – a Phonics proponent- and I will be writing a few more to her as well as to another member of Reading Reform Foundation UK.
Please read my posts at http://luqmanmusings.blogspot.com/
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can see this is a real passion for you Luqman but I am not a teacher of any kind … I merely wrote about a poem saying that the eduction curriculum needs to include more practical components like dealing with emotions, fixing a car … I have no clue about how to teach or help kids who shut down … good luck with all that you do!
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Oops! Thank you ma’am. Wish you well.
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“Schooling is the nightmare of reality”. Yes, it was a night mare for all my students who are sent to me for tuition on a one on one basis because they are unable to read in English even though they can read in Malay and ‘Pin Yin’ (Mandarin written in Roman/Latin alphabets).
After about one month of 3 hours a day with me they enjoy going to school.
About 30% of kids shut down from learning to read in English because of the confusion as a result of faulty teaching.
This nightmare for many smart kids will continue until teachers begin to realise that the nightmare is caused by their faulty instruction.
Please read my facebook post today by a mother whose daughter came to me a year ago unable to read a single sentence. My FB is open to public and can be assessed by clicking my name – Luqman Michel
That post was unsolicited and 3 days ago I happened to meet the mother by chance.
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Thanks for contacting me. I will check it out.
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Hi Norah, are you in Australia? Which part? My husband was born in New South Wale, came to the US when he was 12. Among his family members, we were the first ones traveled to Australia. ❤
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Hi Miriam. Yes, I am an Australian. I live in Brisbane, Queensland’s capital. How long ago did you visit Australia, and where? I hope you enjoyed it.
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That was the first place we went when we started our travel in 2002. We arrived in Sydney, visited Bondi beach, toured the opera house, went to see an opera, climbed the Harbor bridge, visited my husband’s aunt in Blue Mountain, then we went north, I think we passed by Brisbane and went to Caine for Great Barrier Reef diving, went to Port Douglas, and Cape Tribulations. We like it very much, and I bought many black opal pieces!
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That was a great adventure, Miriam. I think you’ve done more than I have. I haven’t climbed the bridge, nor have I been to Cape Tribulation. I’ll be visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time in July to attend a wedding. I wonder will we venture near to your Aunt’s home. 🙂
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She took us to the Three Sisters. She was 84 back then and she walked up and down those steps down the valley faster and I. 🙂
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Wow! What an adventure. Your aunt sounds inspirational. It must have been such fun.
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Yes, we had fun with her.
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Hi Norah. I’m glad to find out that you’re in education and rally for early childhood education. Please keep in touch. I just followed you. ❤
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Thank you for following, Miriam. It is wonderful to meet another advocate of early childhood education. I have also followed you. 🙂
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Yes, Norah. I was younger when I studied Child Development. Now I learned more related issues. I had many positive ecperience during my daughter’s early years. Through my volunteer counseling, I learned that many of the adult issues go right back to the early years. So this is not just book issue, It’s really life issue.
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That’s true, Miriam. Those early years are so important and have an enormous impact on our happiness in later life.
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Yes, Norah, many studies show that Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) contributes the major cause for emotional destruction in adults. All the female clients I have could trace back to that cause.
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It’s sad to realise how difficult it is to overcome those early negative experiences. Some do remarkably well despite them.
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Yes, early intervention is important. That’s reason to have the “First 5 California” initiative.
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The initiative sounds fantastic. Are the results proving it to be so?
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I think the Mexican kids benefit most from the State Head Start program. It’s only for low income families. Normal income families are not qualified. Those families don’t do a whole lot at home to converse with little ones. So at least the kids get something from the program. I can’t say too much without getting into politics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s right. We don’t want to get political. It is the low income families that tend to need the help. They don’t always understand the value of education.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I taught parenting classes, they were the one who said we couldn’t afford to send the kids to college whereas the Asian parents tried to find the best college loans.
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You’ve described a difference in attitude that can make all the difference to success.
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Yes, I said help your kids to do well at school, worry about money later. They may do so well that they get many scholarships.
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Wouldn’t that be nice to win a scholarship. Great advice.
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It’s possible. When we went to Germany, met a girl at the airport. She went to college in Munich with scholarship.
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Awesome!
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A brave girl!
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I love this!
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Thank you, Camie. I’m pleased it resonated with you. Or am I more sad that there’s such a difference?
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This is so true, Norah – if only more people understood!!
Emma 🙂
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Thank you very much, Emma. 🙂
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Thank you Louise. I really appreciate your visit and comment. 😊
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Well done on trying something new. I am sure you will have great success and enjoyment from your blog just as my girls had great success and enjoyment from you teaching them .
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