Saturday, January 5, 2008
Reading as a process means repeating the written words aloud. Most of us study reading at the early ages, usually at 5 or 6. The first reading lessons are often aimed to teach the alphabet and how to clue the separate letters together.
Once a child has learnt to read separate words most parents and teachers focus their teaching process on reading speed and pronunciation. Although clear and fast reading is a very useful skill it is not as important for future development and successful study as reading comprehension or understanding. Reading comprehension skills should be developed from the first reading lessons in order to make children clear with the purpose of reading and its usefulness. The example of the best comprehension of what has been read is that a reader can easily discuss the questions given in the text and is able to create, assess and argue his/her own opinion. In order to develop good comprehension skills it is necessary to apply reading tasks to be done during each reading lesson.
The discussion after reading can be seen as a difficult process for the first time. This difficulty can be easily overcome if a teacher or parent would remember the reasons of why the discussion is usually hard to start. The first reason is discussion requires original thinking (a reader's own opinion). Original ideas can be created if only children would not use only the author's information. One of the most effective ways to develop original thinking is giving some hints in the form of questions and incomplete statements. For example, ask the children why the hero decides to do something and give some hints: may be he wants?.or he just needs? etc. Another good way to develop original thinking is the heroes transmission into reality. For example, ask the question what do you think about the hero's actions if he were your friend; what you would advise him to do; would you agree if your friend did the same thing etc. Children are more likely to talk about real people and would always adore imaginative tasks.
Though original ideas are required a reader's own independent opinion good comprehension of reading inevitably involves the text analysis. The text analysis can easily be linked with original ideas presentation. Ask children to support their own ideas with the text. Here compare-contrast questions would be very useful. For example, ask them to give their own opinion and then to find the paragraphs where the characters' or the author's opinion could be. Then ask them to read this paragraph aloud and compare the opinions given in class and the ones given in text. Be ready to get surprised by your gifted students: some of them might happen to be more brilliant in their opinion than the author is!
Hint questions, incomplete statements and compare-contrast questions with the text analysis will sooner or later make each reader start understanding the author idea and even interpret and develop it by his/her own. The highly developed comprehension skills are compulsory if your dream is to become a good writer one day.
The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com.
Sharon White has many years of a vast experience in Essay Writing and custom essays writing consulting. Get free samples of essays and courseworks and buy essays .
Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football has now only been recognised as a truly national competition.
After a decade and a half of fighting off the V.F.L (Victorian Football League)
stigma, the A.F.L would be delighted with the last 6 years results.
Let me explain:
Australian rules football was developed by 2 enterprising young men back in
the Mid 1800`s who needed to find a way of keeping the cricketers fitness levels
up during winter.
They came up with what we know today as "Aussie Rules".
Played only in the State of Victoria initially,in 1897, the Victorian Football League
or V.F.L was born. This competition was the elite of footballers from Melbourne and
surrounding districts.
It was a thriving competition attracting crowds in excess of 60,000 to each of the
6 games played on a Saturday afternoon in suburban Melbourne.
The game spread to the other states of Australia but never had the profile that it
had in Victoria. Elite players from interstate came to Victoria to pit their ability
against the best in the nation.
Interstate carnivals began in the 1950`s but it soon became evident that Victoria
was clearly dominant sometimes winning games by extraordinary amounts.
By the 1970`s this format was changed to allow players to represent the State they
initially came from. This allowed all the elite players from other states that were
playing V.F.L to "Go Home" and represent their own State.
This had a dramatic effect on the Interstate competition and bought renewed interest
from the other States.
The governing body of football decided to relocate one of the V.F.L teams to
Sydney in New South Wales.Hence the South Melbourne Football Club moved
north in 1982.By the late 80`s the V.F.L could see the interest level soaring
from other States and put the wheels in motion to include teams from Interstate,
namely:
West Coast Eagles in Western Australia
Adelaide Crows in South Australia
Brisbane Bears(later Lions) in Queensland.
( Port Adelaide S.A and Fremantle W.A were later inculsions)
By 2000 the game had gone truly national with a 16 team competition from 5 States.
With West Coast winning 2 premierships (`92 & `94 ) and Adelaide winning 2 (`97,`98)
the revered Premiership Cup had left the borders of Victoria for the first time since
1897.
The V.F.L had changed its name to the A.F.L Australian Football League and everyone
grasped the concept except maybe for die hard tradtional Victorians.
Of the past 7 Grand Finals played,including 2006 last week, 6 have been won by what
Victorians call "Interstate Clubs".The last 3 being contested by non Victorian clubs.
Our game has changed,of that there is no doubt. And for the better too.
Just don`t tell too many Victorians that.
If you would like more information on the unique Australian game, please email me
at craig@craigs-adsense.info
Please leave your questions and I`ll reply within a few hours despite our time difference.
PurePoint Golf Instruction – Golf Swing & a Golf Grip Lesson on Grip Pressure
Copyright (c) 2006 David Nevogt
I think skulling or topping is the most common missed golf swing when you're chipping the golf ball.
You'll have a great shot lined up, but when you look up, you've skulled it, or topped it, or hit it thin and bladed it over the green.
So, let me tell you about an exercise that will help you a lot with your golf swing.
After you set up, ball in the middle, weight left and handle left, watch the club head, not a giant followthrough. Here's why.
The angle that your club goes back is up. So, if it goes up, it'll come back down and you'll hear a click.
Now when you skull, your golf club travels too much inside. That means it didn't get up high enough.
But if it goes inside low, it will try to go and get underneath the ball on the way down.
So, the next time you're out on the golf course or the practice facility, try this little exercise to improve your golf swing. See if you can take the leading edge, and see if you can chop some grass with it.
Not a giant followthrough, but a very functional way to chip a golf ball and not skull anymore.
Now, have you ever asked yourself how hard should I hold a golf club?
There's something real common in this country. When we shake people's hands, we kind of know whether you're shaking their hand and it's a little too light, or maybe it's a little too firm.
But when we swing a golf club there's no gauge. There's no one on the other end saying, ?Hey, you're holding on too tight.?
I have a great golf grip lesson for you. Let me tell you something that will really help, because there really is something down there saying, ?Hey, I think you're holding on too tight,? or maybe, ?You're holding on too softly.?
Watch this. The tighter you hold a golf club, the slower the face is to roll over and release. The lighter that you hold a golf club, the easier it is and the quicker the toe will cross over.
So, if you're struggling and you feel like you're hitting the golf ball shorter than you should and you're fading a little bit, lighten up on your grip.
If you feel that maybe you're hitting it left with a little too much hook, and you're really hitting it far, maybe even a little further that you might normally hit it, then maybe you hold on a little too softly.
For those of you that hook the golf ball and you want to hold onto the grip a little tighter, start with the left hand. Hold onto the club with the left hand just a little tighter than the right, but hold on firmer.
Again, if you feel like you're fading, loosen up on it. If you feel like you're hooking, grab onto it just a little bit tighter. Hopefully this golf grip lesson will help you.
Have a great day, and thanks.
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David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to http://www.golfswingguru.com
