The Four Reading Roles

           

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Many students in elementary school read without understanding the text. When I was in elementary school I was one of those students. I would read the text in front me as fast as I could with barely picking up information or key words. I would then finish the reading and try to answer questions only to realize that I had to go and re-read the text to find the information I was looking for. While I do not remember the reading roles that are now a significant part for understanding the reading process, they would have helped me enhance my reading skills and comprehension of the texts.

What are Reading Roles?

            Reading Roles consist of four different categories. The four categories, code breaker, meaning maker, text user, and text analysis, all contribute to a readers understanding of the text. The different roles are assigned to four students who then work as a group to break down the text in regards to their specific role. For a deeper understanding of the roles, my read, explains how the readers can be successful through using the roles. The roles help the students examine the text for specific criteria that can help them better understand the information. The reading roles also allow students to work in a group setting and gain different perspectives from the multiple members in their group. The following image breaks down what some expectations of each role is. If all students complete the roles, then they will have a significant understanding of the information.

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The Importance of Reading Roles

            Reading roles can play an integral role in a students understanding of literary text. Reading with roles gives the students an idea to focus on while reading. The roles also help students make connections to other texts or other readings that they have done in the past. Reading roles gives students a chance to work with their peers and use collaboration. While students may be afraid to speak up and ask the teacher for help in fear of being wrong the reading role groups can help the students deconstruct the reading and find the meaning on their own.  

  

How to use Reading Roles

            Reading roles can be integrated into any classroom where reading is present. The roles can be assigned by the teacher or by students which allows for choice. If the teacher is assigning the roles they can assign roles to identify student’s strengths or to help students work on their reading weakness. The roles can also create class discussion whether in between groups or a larger full class discussion. For more information on how to use the reading roles in class use edutopia for further ideas. This website contains many articles on how to use different teaching resources in the classroom. This specific article examines specifically the four reading roles in the classroom.

Reading and the Curriculum

            The reading roles also help the students achieve the overall expectations of the reading curriculum. The students will better be able to understand a variety of texts using a range of strategies to construct meaning. The students can take turns in each role which would help them better understand the texts using different strategies. The students will also use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently. The student who is the code breaker will use their prior knowledge to read the text fluently and decipher new texts. This specific role will help the students read fluently by identifying words that are new. The reading roles are not only useful for helping the students understand the text by also achieve expectations set out by the Ontario curriculum.

            To enhance the reading of all students, teachers should look for any resources that they can access. Reading Roles can be implemented in a variety of grades. The connections that students make to other words or readings should improve as they age. The roles will help all students create a better understanding of the text. Reading role will also help the students read for meaning as they are trying to understand the text instead of just skimming through the information looking for the answers to questions. Reading roles can and should be brought into classrooms to create a better understanding of reading in elementary students.