“Think Before you Write” by Joanna Hawkins was both informative and interesting. I especially enjoyed reading of how Hawkins and her colleague recognized students’ lack of understanding in the subject matter and developed ways to help them comprehend. I definitely agree when Hawkins states “Students need to know about what they write.” This makes more sense than students writing about what they already know. Students will learn much more by researching and actually understanding a topic before writing about it. The writing for understanding process seems to be a great process to use. Children will actually comprehend what they read and write about instead of just “sort of” getting it as Hawkins says. Instead of barely getting by students will enjoy learning because they will know what is going on in the classroom.
A couple of the classes I am now enrolled in are stating that children need to read text more than once to actually understand the material. Hawkins agrees with this and adds that teachers must “have materials at appropriate reading levels available, but also providing opportunities in class for students to read, discuss, and reread; analyze text structure; and summarize (Snow, 2002)” (3). I find when I read sometimes I am left wondering what I have just read. Therefore I go back and reread the text, sometimes up to three times until I understand what has happened. I also try to understand the meaning of words I do not know based on the vocabulary which surrounds it, and then I check a dictionary to be sure. I feel as though when I use this method of reading I am learning more, therefore I agree the more students review and analyze text the more they will understand the lesson. Lastly, I enjoyed how Hawkins told of how she felt when she realized she helped one of her previous students. I was reminded of why I am becoming a teacher.
