The first chapter of Gunning’s textbook is entitled “Introduction to Reading Difficulties, so one of the first things asked is what do you know about reading and writing difficulties? It really got me thinking: What do I know?
I thought back to my own experiences in grade school. I was never one to go see a reading specialist, or leave the class for any type of help or therapy, but I remember that wasn’t the case for some of the kids in my class. Having gone to a Lutheran grade school, I was around most of the same kids for nearly 9 or 10 years. In fourth grade, we had a group that left the room to go to reading, and a group that stayed in the classroom. I think the group that left the room was the more advanced, confident readers, while those that struggled stayed behind and did some work with the teacher, which is strange, because usually struggling children are taken out of the classroom. I also recall some teacher aides in third grade that would work with children who struggled with reading or other homework.
This chapter also taught me that there’s definitely more for me to learn about reading and writing difficulties. How can I know how to help and address them if I don’t know what they are? I do know that it is important to do what’s best for the child. The example used in chapter one, Awilda, is a good way to show that. They tried many different solutions to help her, but the help they supplied failed to show improvements. You need to know what works best for them, so you must first know the child. This is important in every aspect of teaching.
There are also many different kind of reading disabilities. You cannot just group them all together and assume that one solution will solve all problems. A variety of different things can cause lack of ability or willingness to read in children. Different things including home life, the modeling of reading that they have been shown, lack of literature, or a developmental issue could influence this. This is another important reason to really explore and dive in before you try to make a change.
Carolyn's EDU344 Blog 
I’m glad to see you relate the text back to your own experiences in elementary school, Carolyn. Reflecting on what worked and what didn’t from our own school years can definitely inform our teaching and make us stronger educators.
You are so right about knowing the child before figuring out the best way to help her/him. A huge part of teaching, and the element that makes it so unique to me, is the relationship building that occurs between teachers and students and their families. The most effective teachers are the ones who reach out to kids, who partner with families, who invest emotionally in their work. The best teachers also take time out for themselves, though, staying healthy by not letting the work consume them. It can be a tricky balancing act the first couple of years as a classroom teacher, but if you approach kids with both your heart and mind, you’ll find the rewards are great.