Reading Difficulties in Doha
Reaching out to the Reading Difficulties students
Teaching reading is a hugely complicated task. No matter what method is used to teach children, they will end up learning to read. However, unless they get special help, almost 20 percent of them can’t master master this task that we take for granted. Their difficultly is noticeable when they try to read out loud. Children with reading difficulties tend to stop and start frequently. They also mispronounce some words and skip other completely. Children with reading difficulties start to grow ashamed as they struggle with a skill their classmates master effortlessly.
Reading skills is similar to building blocks. In order for the children to find the ability of reading well, they need the blocks of knowing the sound of letters and knowing the meanings of words. The children need efficient reading instructions in order to build these foundations of reading. Some of the greatest ways for parents to learn about the types of reading instruction at their child’s school is to talk with the teacher. Parents can also examine homework assignments. To help the parents determine what methods their child’s school is using to teach reading, they should know the different between phonic and whole langue which are the two main methods to teaching reading. According to an expert researcher, reading disabilities possibly occur in at least 20 percent of the population (Shaywitz, 2003), Yet only about four percent of school-age students obtain special education services for reading disabilities. |
Parent's prior knowledge about Reading Difficulties:
I went around asking parents what they know about Reading Difficulties. How did they feel when they first found about about their children going through this path. Here's what i found:
Parent 1"I never knew what reading difficulties actually is. I used to always get called up to school due to my son's academic behaviour. The school kept telling me that my son isn't on his grade's reading level. He's behind his classmates in 2 years. At first i thought they were just joking around with me. I didn't believe it. I kept an eye on my son at home, made him read couple of times before he goes to bed but he always found a way to run away and not read. I was wondering about why he didn't want to read. Was it the type of book i chose for him? Is it too hard for him? I never knew the answer. I went online and searched up about this problem to pick up more information. And at that point, i knew my son was facing reading difficulties."
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Parent 2"If you asked me couple of years ago that my daughter would be facing reading difficulties in the future, i wouldn't believe you. My daughter have transferred to 3 different schools till now and she's in 2nd grade. Every school my daughter entered they would tell me your daughter is facing reading difficulties. I didn't believe them at first. I used to always say this isn't a good school and just changed schools. Until one day i started to think about what they told me. So i went to couple of learning difficulties centers and joined some courses . After all the courses i've joined, i still don't know how to help my daughter with this problem. What strategies i can do to help her become a better reader"
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Parent 3"It's not easy finding out that your son or daughter is facing difficulties in reading. I remember that day the principle called me in ad told me my son isn't on the proper level he should be in reading. They've tried to help him but it's not working. I was shocked at first. I went online and read about it. I found out what the problem is, that my son would might be one of those children that just needs a bit more attention and support from both teachers and myself. So i made it my goal to try my best to help him at home. I talked to his principle and changed his school to a school that concentrates about those type of problems. Although i knew about my son having this problem, i still don't know what strategies i can do at home to help him improve. I attended many courses, read online, but it didn't really work."
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What is Reading Disabilities in general?
People with Reading disabilities have difficulty learning particular skills or academic areas. Reading disabilities is not related to intelligence. It is often physiological. The brain of someone with Reading Disabilities may be wired differently than other people's brains.
What is the difference between a reading "difficulty" and a reading "disability"?
According to Raja'a Shalabi, a Special Education Specialist, Teachers and school administrators are the best qualified to determine the specific curricula and lesson plans appropriate to their students' needs. Some students can struggle with reading but they do not have a diagnosed disability. These students with reading difficulties may just lag behind their peers for a bit. They may require more time to learn certain things or require more specialized reading instruction that has been provided. Whatever the situation is, these students rely on caring schools, parents and teachers that provide them the reading help that is needed. Some students are properly diagnosed with a reading disability.
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Raja'a Shalabi"My name is Raja'a Shalabi, a Jordanian nationality holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Jordan, and a higher Diploma in teaching students with learning difficulties, has also a master degree in Special Education. I have an overall experience of 18 years in: teaching regular classes, teaching students with learning difficulties and coordination tasks. I joined Awsaj Academy – formally known as The Learning Center in 1996. Awsaj Academy is a private and non-profit educational organization, established by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development in 1996, in order to provide opportunities for educational development and therapeutic for students and enable them to exploit the maximum potential energy they have through the establishment of rules of self-education and encourage creativity and innovation. Also, I worked as the Arabic curriculum coordinator at Awsaj Academy and I have made great efforts in training teachers in the area of teaching students who struggles with learning and have academic challenges. I Participated and attended many conferences and workshops within and outside the State of Qatar. Last May, I presented at a conference hosted by the International Council of the Arabic Language in cooperation with UNESCO. The presentation focused on the vision and mission of Awsaj Academy, a school for students with learning challenges at the K-12 levels, and provided evidence-based strategies for teaching the skills of reading, writing, cognitive content and comprehension in Arabic.I have been also invited at some TV programs.I worked as a Head of Arabic Unit at Awsaj Academy for the last few years before i moved to a new position as an Assistant Principal of a new primary school, Msheireb, which will offer an integrated learning environment in a bilingual instructional program at Qatar Foundation too."
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