Read Aloud WV

Research

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Kids can joke their way to better reading comprehension

Knock-knock jokes and other riddles can actually help children learn to read better and to understand what they read, says an article in October 2008 issue of Reading Teacher (reposted here at WETA public television’s Reading Rockets site).

Children must become familiar with sounds that make up words. That's one aspect of metalinguistic awareness called phonemic awareness. Another type is the ability to recognize that words have different meanings, writes Marcy Zipke, who teaches at Providence College in Rhode Island.

In studies, children who received special instruction in homonyms and who played with and wrote their own riddles showed improved test scores compared to children who did not receive that instruction.

"Riddles are the perfect medium for learning how to manipulate language,” she writes.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Cargo.
Cargo who?
Cargo BEEP BEEP!

Why are fish so smart?
Because they swim in schools!

 

Reading proficiency falls as students grow

In 2007, only 28 percent of West Virginia fourth graders were reading at or above the proficient level, putting the state at 38th in the nation. By eighth grade, only 23 percent of students are at least proficient. After showing some improvement, the numbers have worsened during the last eight years.

One factor in rearing better readers is to introduce children to reading -- for fun -- at an early age and to keep reading for fun throughout life. Read Aloud organizes adults to set an example of reading for children. Read Aloud motivates children to want to read.

When that happens, they cannot help but to improve and to learn. Test scores in reading, social studies, math and everything else naturally follow.

 

Check back for more details of research and news regarding the role of reading, child development, educational and economic success.