I agree. The language issue is a huge barrier for kids and I do think that not dismissing the literal, or perhaps simply assuming it, can be part of the problem. We see very young children unable to orchestrate initial visual cues with a cross-check of the picture because they haven't a name for the picture. So that if the text says, "I like strawberries" and there is a picture of a strawberry, the child may well infer that the writer likes those red things that taste sweet but cannot produce the word strawberry because they simply do not have it in their working vocabulary.
Lori ----- Original message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Date: 2008, 16, Saturday Of February 10:04 Subject: [MOSAIC] literal - inferential for strugglers > > I think sometimes the problem isn't that these kids can't infer, it is often > they don't have the language to express their thoughts. I have been thinking > that some intensive vocabulary instruction must go hand in hand with > strategy instruction which works on both literal and inferential. > Jennifer > In a message dated 2/16/2008 8:17:32 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > I think at times we undervalue literal knowledge. If I am in a burning > house and know where the door is, that literal knowledge seems pretty darned > important to me. If I don't know, than any bit of inference I might be able > to > use would sure help. That said, I work with children with severe language > issues (not second language speakers, but low vocabulary). Literal > knowledge is > import for these children to build up their reservoire of language > understanding. When our children read, the literal knowledge is helping > them build > schema. I think that kids have to have a literal understanding to build all > the > other skills on, but why we can't work on them hand in hand, I don't know... > > Lori > > > > > > > > **************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy > Awards. Go to AOL Music. > (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565) > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
