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Help for Your Students Who Never Seem to “Get It”

Jul 12, 2016
 
 

Blog-Image-Help-For-You-Students

 

Teachers know there is a long list of reasons to make reading a lifelong habit: the cognitive workout we get when we read and the exposure to new ideas are arguably top reasons to be a regular reader. So, when a student (who otherwise has adequate decoding skills) is unenthusiastic about books, regardless of the topic, it is certainly reason for concern.

 

Most reading experts agree on one thing: in order to comprehend what they read, students must have strong decoding skills and adequate oral vocabulary. In other words, they must be able to accurately decode every word on the page and also know what the words mean.

 

Unfortunately, many students who are able to decode well and understand words continue to demonstrate weak comprehension skills. This is the student in your class who reads but never appears to “get it.” Words seem to go in one ear and out the other. This is a student who may also demonstrate  weak memory when following directions or has a hard time understanding conversations.  They may appear to not even try to listen.

 

These students may only be getting parts of the information they read or hear, but not the whole.

 

They can be helped.

 

What is missing for these students?

 

Clinical research over the last thirty years indicates there is a separate comprehension weakness that is rarely identified. This weakness often undermines the reading process. It is a weakness, based in the sensory system, in creating an imaged gestalt or “whole.”

 

Nanci Bell, author of the Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking program, first became aware of the connection that underlies comprehension while she was teaching phoneme awareness to students struggling with literacy, many of whom had been previously diagnosed as dyslexic. Nanci has described that at the time, she was unaware of a separate comprehension dysfunction. Like many others, she believed difficulty with reading comprehension was caused by weak decoding and weak oral vocabulary skills.

 

In the following excerpt from Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking, Nanci Bell describes the incident that sparked her passion to change learning for students struggling with weak comprehension.

 

………………………………………………….

 

Needing a break in the lesson from spelling word after word, I decide to have Allan,    [a college student majoring in architecture], read and give me a verbal summary.  Handing him a college level skill book, I ask him to read aloud so I can be certain he is decoding accurately.

 

He accurately reads the page of material, and I take the book from him, saying, “Good job.  Tell me what you read.”

 

Allan gives me the very complete summary, beginning with the main idea and then including all the details.  To my amazement, he infers, concludes, predicts, and evaluates the material.  He is confident and involved in the activity – a much different Allan than the one that struggles with spelling.

 

I stare at him, saying, “That was really an incredible summary.  How are you able to do that?”

 

Looking at me, surprised and now shy, Allan replies, “I don’t know.”

 

Realizing that Allan seems embarrassed and unsure of himself because of my question, I reassure him.  “That really was good.  You have very good reading comprehension.  How did you do that?  If I know what you do to remember what you read, perhaps I can teach others to do it.”

 

Thoughtful, Allan replies, “I don’t know.”  Then, after a pause, he says, “I make movies when I read.”

 

A little surprised, I ask, “What do you mean, you make movies when you read?”

 

“I don’t know.  I just see movies in my head when I read.  The words turn into pictures and I just remember the pictures, the images.  Don’t you do that?”

 

Thinking about the books I’ve read, I finally answer, “Yes.  I do.  I picture what I read.  I guess I’ve just not thought about it.”

 

“Do other people do that, too?”

 

“I don’t know … but I’ll find out …”

 

The statement “I make movies when I read” prompted my twenty-five-year-odyssey exploring the relationship between imagery and language.  Today, twenty years after first writing Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking, I am still passionate about the importance of imagery to comprehension and cognition. (Bell, 2007, pp. 4-8)

 

………………………………………………….

 

If you have students who are demonstrating weak reading or language comprehension skills, you can learn the steps of the Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking program by attending one of our workshops for teachers: Schedule and Locations

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Lindamood-Bell Academy is a great fit for many students, including children who struggle with reading. We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online. 
Learn more at our upcoming Virtual Open House. Get details and RSVP at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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#lindamoodbellacademy  #privateschool #lindamoodbell #covidslide #personalizedlearning #virtuallearning #remotelearning #dyslexia #dyslexic #testimonial #parentsofinstagram
Imagine what your child could accomplish with Lindamood-Bell this summer! 
Our unique sensory cognitive instruction results in years of learning gain in just a few weeks—attend in person or live online. 
Enroll soon for special savings—details are at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial. 
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #dyslexia #dyslexic #adhd #tutor #testimonial #summerslide #summerslump #covidslide
Join us this summer—our learning centers are hiring now!
We’re seeking energetic, positive individuals who want to make a difference for students.  The Clinician(Tutor) role includes paid training in our evidence-based approach. View our open positions and get started! Link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #nowhiring #hiring #summerjob
Our free webinar is now available on-demand. Get information about summer instruction at our learning center. We help students of all ages catch up or get ahead in reading, comprehension, and math in a matter of weeks. Watch now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Educators: Lindamood-Bell for Schools can help you mitigate learning loss and accelerate recovery in MATH. Our unique approach is proven effective with disadvantaged learners and students in special education. Visit our website to learn about workshops and professional development that can help you make a difference. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Searching for the perfect school where your child can learn and thrive? Our positive school environment sets the stage for academic success! Lindamood-Bell Academy features personalized learning and real-time interaction with instructors and classmates. Whether they attend live online or in person, students are engaged with learning and have ample opportunity to socialize. 
🗣️Hear from our students—NEW VIDEO at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Lindamood-Bell Academy is a great fit for many students—especially those struggling with reading. We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online.
Enroll now for 2023-24 and receive 50% off a month of tuition. Get details at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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#lindamoodbellacademy  #privateschool #lindamoodbell #covidslide #personalizedlearning #virtuallearning #remotelearning #dyslexia #dyslexic #testimonial #parentsofinstagram
This summer, students of all ages can catch up or get ahead in learning—and go back to school with confidence. Our evidence-based instruction results in years of growth in a matter of weeks! Register for a free webinar about Lindamood-Bell Summer Learning. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #covidslide #summerslide #summerslump #dyslexia #dyslexic #testimonial #tutoring #tutor #tutors
📣Now hiring for summer! 📣
We’re seeking energetic, positive individuals who want to make a difference for students.  The Clinician(Tutor) role includes paid training in our evidence-based approach. View our open positions and get started! Link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
.
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#lindamoodbell #nowhiring #hiring #summerjob
Lindamood-Bell Academy is an accredited K-12 school where every student can thrive! We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online. Enroll now for the 2023-24 school year and receive 50% off a month of tuition. Get details at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
.
.
.
#lindamoodbellacademy  #privateschool #lindamoodbell #covidslide #personalizedlearning #virtuallearning #remotelearning
Imagine what your child could accomplish after a few weeks with Lindamood-Bell—
Enroll soon for special savings on Summer Instruction! 
Watch the entire new testimonial and get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial. 
.
.
.
#lindamoodbell #tutor #dyslexia #dyslexic #adhd #tutor #testimonial #summerslide #summerslump #covidslide
Our learning centers are hiring! Learn more about the Clinician(Tutor) role and get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial .
.
.
.
#job #jobvacancy #nowhiring #hiring #hiringnow
Imagine what your child could accomplish after a few weeks with Lindamood-Bell—
Enroll soon for special savings on Summer Instruction! 
Watch the entire new testimonial and get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
New Podcast Episode!
Many states have passed laws to standardize how schools identify and help students with dyslexia. Lindamood-Bell for Schools Director of Development, Dave Kiyvyra, is joined by Dr. Andrea Stolar, Director of Special Education for Chicopee Public Schools in Massachusetts. They discuss how schools align literacy instruction with dyslexia legislation and the Science of Reading. Listen & subscribe at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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