Becoming a Reading Specialist

I saw on the newspapers that the Ministry of Education wanted suitable qualified teachers to pursue a Masters in Education in Reading to become a Reading Specialist in order to deal with the reading problems in schools. As a teacher with ten years experience, I believe that the reading problem in Trinidad is really grave. I have tried to assist struggling readers with commercial programs which worked to some extent. However, a major limitation of these programmes is that they are not designed to be child specific. So when I heard of the Ministry's resolve to train Reading Specialists to combat the reading problems in schools, I was delighted. No longer would I have to rely on general, commercial programs. I will be able to diagnose a child, determine which reading level he or she is at, identify specific reading problem areas, and provide research-based solutions to improve his or her reading.

If a child is unable to read, he is handicapped in this technological, literacy based world which translates to not being able to read signs while walking down the street or order food from a menu, read the newspaper, follow the instructions to begin using a product that he or she bought or prepare a delicious meal from a recipe, enjoy a novel or pursue higher education. Someone told me once, "In the beginning we learn to read but now we read to learn." I remember a novel I once read about the teacher who could not read and the pain and anguish he went through on a daily basis to hide his handicap from the world. Children do suffer when they cannot read. Being a Reading Specialist will empower me to help struggling readers reach for the stars.

Downloading and Playing Videos from youtube

Have you ever stumbled across an interesting and informative video on youtube and, anxious to download it, you discovered to your dismay that you are unable to do so? Moreover, if you somehow were successful in downloading it, you become frustrated because you cannot play the file offline. I had the same problem. I just had to have those amazing, informative video clips about web 2.0 that our ICT lecturer introduced to us. So I went online in search of a solution. I came across a post by a gentleman who suggested a program by the name "Any Video Converter". I followed the link, downloaded the program, checked for viruses and spyware, of course, and voila! It worked. Now I can easily download any video from youtube and convert it to a number of common formats that the regular DVD and Media player software can read.

You may be wondering why the videos from youtube do not play on your regular software. It is because youtube uses a file format FLV (Flash Video) that those software do not read. So if you prefer to keep the original format of FLV while downloading the video instead of converting them to the format that your regular software can use, then you will need a program that can play FLV. There are many FREE programs that can do the job well: VLC media player that can play just about any thing and flvplayer4free, for example. If this advice has been helpful, please let me know. And do have a fantastic day.

Thoughts on "Adventures in the blogosphere..."

I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Adventures in the blogosphere: from blog readers to blog writers” by Ducate and. Lomicka. It was interesting, stimulating and informative. The investigation suggests that blogging can enhance reading and writing skills. Blogging facilitates collaboration, interactivity, self expression, self empowerment and a sense of ownership of the blog. These elements encourage the development of reading and writing skills because they generate debates, critical analysis, creativity and discussion: students read and write with a purpose hence motivation, direction and enjoyment are present. - key ingredients that promote sustained writing and reading. Blogging is markedly contrasted with traditional writing in that in traditional writing the audience is usually the teacher. In blogging the audience is a much wider population of peers, friends, family, strangers and the teacher. This increase audience provides greater motivation for students to write and write accurately since they are aware that their material will be read by a large, real audience.

The relatively safe and free environment of the blogosphere is contrasted with the sometimes threatening and restrictive nature of the classroom. The blogosphere encourages freedom and openness of expression which is an aid to writing. Moreover, what seemed to emerge from this study is that blogging apparently lends itself to the expression of personal feelings and ideas. Further investigation is needed to understand the full potential and benefits of blogging in enhancing reading and writing but based on this study, blogging seems better suited to enhancing literacy through blogging away about one’s feelings and ideas rather than enhancing literacy through the process of writing, editing and rewriting. In this respect it is very similar to a journal or diary which is also powerful literacy builders.