Reading is more than moving one's eyes across text; it is a process of thought.
Comprehension is the most important component to reading, because what is the purpose of reading without it? Whether you read for leisure or read for a class, you are reading to understand. As we become stronger, faster readers, the processes of comprehension become hidden. While a 2nd grade teacher will ask questions to help a student process their reading, middle school teachers may expect a student to apply the same schema to their subject area. Some students may need a little bit more guidance, and being aware of the schema will make it easier to teach to students. In our activity in class, I was reminded of the importance of
understanding. I will use the strategies (Subjects Matter, 30) in my classroom to reinforce the concepts of thinking that are necessary for reading. These are easy strategies that can be applied to every subject and every class, so this could be one of the most valuable things I could teach my students. I have become such a strong reader, that it was nice to be reminded of what I am actually doing. We take our own knowledge for granted and forget that our students do not yet know what we know.
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