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Literary Analysis Of Pilate In Toni Morrisons Song Of Solomon
Literary Analysis Of Pilate In Toni Morrison’s “Song Of Solomon”
Introduction
Issues toughing on racial discrimination have always drawn considerable controversy. This is especially considering that the history of the United States is rooted in racial discrimination especially against the black people. The fundamental nature of this aspect is evidenced by the fact that a considerable volume of literature has been done on it, trying to explain its various aspects. On the same note, the theme of racial discrimination has inspired and been incorporated in various fictional works. This is the case for Toni Morrison’s book, Song of Solomon.
Song of Solomon is a story that is set in Michigan. It traces the life of Milkman, since his birth to the age of 32, while focusing on his aimless and spiritually empty life as a young man trapped in the materialistic lifestyle of his dad and the traditional values that Pilate upholds. This book explores the pursuit for cultural identity. The story, based on African American folktale pertaining to enslaved Africans who escape from slavery by finding their way back to Africa, tells of Milkman’s story of alienation from his people, estrangement from family, community, as well as cultural and historical roots. The young man is spiritually dead and mentally enslaved, but he embarks on a spiritual, as well as physical journey that enhances his capacity to realize his self-worth and reconnect with the past with Pilate’s help and assistance of Guitar Bains. One of the most crucial characters in the story is Pilate Dead, who is Milkman’s auntie. This lady has been sufficiently used in the exploration of the theme of flight as a means for escaping slavery. It is evident that Pilate’s character places her as an embodiment of courage, strength, as well as love with Mother Nature and love for one’s cultural roots.
Pilate is the key, female protagonist in the story. She is closely linked with the family history and is rich in connotations. Her mother had died while giving birth to her, or rather before giving birth to her but she was sufficiently strong as to fight her way out of the womb. This is the strength that was to characterize her life even as an adult. Nevertheless, Pilate did not have a navel, a handicap that resulted in her isolation from the ordinary people of this country and even had a bearing on the independent and autonomous way of life. Her mystical qualities of half witch and half human gave her the ability to communicate with the dead father. It is stated that “Pilate was believed to have the power to step out of her skin, set a bush afire from fifty yards, and turn a man into a ripe rutabaga- all on account of the fact that she had no navel (Morrison 94).
On various occasions, Morrison uses symbolism to underline the nature of Pilate. One of the symbols that she uses is the perfect, soft-boiled egg. Pilate makes the eggs and shells off of them, after which she opens them up thereby revealing their soft insides. This is when she starts outlining the captivating stories pertaining to seeing her father’s ghost and watching a man die. The act of splitting up the egg gives the readers the impression that her capacity to get open is up is tantamount to having the capacity to deal with matters in a conclusive manner.
Despite the misfortunes that she has undergone, Pilate remains selfless and loving with her only regret at her time of death being that she could not extend her love to more people. It is noteworthy that her loving nature is nor a weakness rather it is her strength. This is especially seen when Reba, her daughter is beaten by a man. Pilate is seen pushing a knife within an inch of the man’s heart and warns him against touching Reba every again. While Pilate is well in her sixties, she prevails against Reba’s abuser, who is a strong young man.
Pilate is a representation of the close link to the people’s ancestry and Mother Nature. She is the crucial life force that strives to maintain the pedigree of the family above all other means. At the same time, Pilate’s complexion is extremely black, in which case it comes as a reminder of the African roots of the family. The deliberate choice of the Pilate (the blackest female) as the most powerful character for the novel underlines the ideology pertaining to the “Beauty of being a Negro”, a notion that was a fundamental pillar in the Harlem Renaissance.
One of the fundamental aspects of the story is the incorporation of folk songs, which also cement the nature of Pilate (Morrison, 22). Singing folk songs, pertaining to the Sugarman’s flight, reaffirm her stand against oppression through recreation of a past where her ancestors were expunged from the jaws of oppression. It is worth noting that the recreation of her past sustains the various characters living in the present. Milkman and Macon Jr. need Pilate so as to ensure that they retain the last vestiges pertaining to their humanity. As milkman comes to realize at the end of the journey, Pilate remains the only human being that has the capacity to fly without touching the ground. This implies that she is sufficiently liberated, in which case she does not have to run away so as to regain her freedom. In the end, Pilate becomes the model character of the story and novel. She shows the fact that strength does not necessarily have to be incorporated at the expense of humanity or gentleness. In addition, she exemplifies the fact that freedom never has to be compromised by the compassion of other people.
The existence of Pilate in the story is fundamental as it keeps matrilineal line alive especially considering her opposing values to the obsession with materialism. She attracts Milkman to her by the forbidden fruit pertaining to her knowledge (Morrison 24), which urges the young man to find out the truth about his ancestors. Pilate becomes the surrogate mother and spiritual guide to Milkman, thanks to her role in the creation and preservation of life. She inspires Macon because of her capacity to fly without detaching her feet from the ground (Morrison 25).
Names have also been seen as incredibly significant for the entire Dead Family thanks to their practice of choosing names in a random manner from the bible. Power is associated with the power to define and name perception and reality, especially in the case of Pilate’s attachment or connection to her name. She has even wired the name through her earlobe. Her acknowledgement of the crucial nature of a name, as well as the utilization of Sing’s box, underlines the fact that she connects the past and present using the unshakeable love necessary for creating the likelihood of a real future. It is only when she understands her past that she can establish a future worth admiring.
In conclusion, Toni Morrison has used Pilate as an embodiment of courage, strength, as well as love with Mother Nature and love for one’s cultural roots. The incorporation of folk songs reaffirms her stand against oppression through recreation of a past where her ancestors were expunged from the jaws of oppression. Toni incorporates various symbolic elements in the story, one of which is the perfectly, soft-boiled egg. Pilate, by splitting it up and giving riveting stories, is seen as someone who would strive to deal with any matter in a conclusive manner. The deliberate choice of the Pilate as the most powerful character for the novel, despite her extremely black complexion, underlines the ideology pertaining to the “Beauty of being a Negro”, a notion that was a fundamental pillar in the Harlem Renaissance.
Works cited
Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. London: Vintage, 1998, print
Literature Review of students with reading disabilities
Lit Review
Name
Professor
Course
Date
Introduction
There is an increase in the population of students with reading disabilities in the modern world. The increased numbers raise concern because reading is a basic skill that helps them through the careers. Students with reading disabilities deserve attention because they can improve their skills through various methods. Reading skills are essential in any individual’s life because they enhance success. They help an individual to attain basic knowledge that will help them during their secondary phase of life. This creates the need to enhance reading skills among individuals with reading disabilities. These people need to heighten and also maintain their motivation. There are various techniques that assist students with reading disabilities to acquire reading skills. Flashcards, reading racetracks and SMART Board technology are among the various techniques that help individuals to attain reading skills. A flashcard is a collection of cards that has information such as numbers or words on each or both sides. Flash cards are efficient in classroom drills and also enhance private study. An individual may write a question on one side and the answer on the other. Flashcards can bear information such as vocabulary, formulae and historical dates. They enhance memorization since they involve spaced repetition. Reading racetracks helps to increase fluency (Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby, 2011). A comparison of various articles reveals various techniques that improve reading skills.
The effects of using flashcards with reading racetrack to teach letter sounds, sight words and math facts to elementary students with learning disabilities by Rachel Erbey, T. F. Mclaughlin, K, Mark Derby and Evanson Mary is an article that discusses how flashcards and reading racetrack affect teaching phonics, addition facts and sight words. It also states that despite the presence of ever changing technology, individuals still need basic knowledge such as reading to succeed in life. Students who struggle to attain reading skills during their earlier phases of their education usually face difficulties in the secondary stages and adulthood. Phonetic awareness is among the vital elements needed to enhance reading skills among low progress readers. Teaching reading skills is essential to students with inadequate ability in sight word reading. Basic skills in math calculations are also essential for success in life. After attaining basic operations concepts, the students should learn how to memorize facts and give fast and accurate responses to various facts. This helps students to enhance high level mastery of math concepts. Phonics, fluency, phonetics awareness, text comprehension and vocabulary are areas within reading instruction, which help to nurture successful readers. Reading racetracks, which are drills and practice processes, help to attain skills in four of the above areas. Reading racetracks include instructions on a track that has twenty eight cells, which separate information. It has a start and finish, and two images of automobiles, so the students read the information around the track in a set time. This increases fluency and accuracy in a systematic and entertaining way. Racetracks are also significant among students with various disabilities. A combination of flashcards and racetracks enhances sight word recognition among students with learning disabilities.
Vocabulary Learning: An Electronic Word Card study by Marina Dodigovic is an article that also discusses the significance of learning vocabulary to enhance language skills. However, it gives a description of a technology-supported learning study of vocabulary that involves students in preparation programs within various universities. The study design involves comparison of two flashcards activities, which are technology supported. The first one is where students acquire vocabulary from electronic cards designed by teachers. The second is where students design their cards. There is a third activity that involves comparison but excludes the cards. It uses a within sample design that pretests the vocabulary of students when the academic year begins. After identifying the essential vocabulary, the students and instructors create interactive flashcards using WordChamp, which is an online device. At the end of the semester, they also made comparisons to analyze the progress of the student. The authors of the article claim that self-designed cards are not effective.
Comparison of the Effect of Smart Board Technology and Flash Card Instruction on Sight Word Recognition and Observational Learning is an article that also discusses reading skills. This article compares the effectiveness of flashcards and SMART Board interactive whiteboard technology in teaching reading skills among young adults. Both techniques are effective in enhancing reading skills, but the SMART Board technology has a higher effect among students (Mechling, Thompson, and Gast, 2008).
A Comparison of Two Flashcard Drill Methods Targeting word Recognition by Robert J. Volpe, Christina M. Mule, and Amy M. Briesch discusses two instructional methods within the flashcard drill. The instructional methods are the incremental rehearsal and the traditional drill and practice. The article compares the efficiency of both techniques and social validity. The two methods have minimal differences in efficiency, and also an equal number of students prefer either of the two methods.
Effectiveness and Efficiency of Flashcard Drill Instructional Methods on Urban First Grades’ Word Recognition, Acquisition, Maintenance, and Generalization by Lindsay Nist, Laurice M. Joseph analyzes various instructional methods. It compares the efficiency and effectiveness of instructional methods through methods such as traditional drill and practice flashcard technique, an incremental rehearsal and a ratio of known to unknown interpersal word technique. The incremental rehearsal is an effective method among groups of students while the traditional drill enhanced reading performances.
Motivate Student with Disabilities Using Sight- Vocabulary Activities by Michelle Morgan and Karen B. Moni analyzes twenty ways of using sight-vocabulary activities among students with disabilities. The article also presents various ways of giving these students motivation to learn. Sight vocabulary is essential among these students because it helps them learn how to read and write. It also increases and maintains their zeal to take part and also persist in learning. The article describes various games such as vocabulary charts, word banks, waterfalls of words, setting the scene and vocabulary mobiles. The authors also suggest a sequence that introduces functional sight vocabulary.
All the articles seek to determine the most effective technique that assists students with disabilities to acquire reading skills. The authors of the articles carried out various researches to determine the necessary areas in reading instruction. This creates a basis for their discussion and also helps readers to relate to the information provided in each article. The articles analyze different techniques but all the authors compare the efficiency of each method to that of the flashcard technique. All the articles have different research methodology, but all the results point out the efficiency of the flashcard method. Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby (2010) discuss about the efficiency of the flashcard and the racetracks. They give descriptions of the processes involved in each method. The racetracks are designed by the instructors although there are instances when the students design their racetracks. Learning vocabulary is essential in acquiring reading skills. They also claim that the racetrack is suitable for beginners because it does not have complicated procedures. Students usually enjoy the two methods, so they acquire the skills faster and also improve their fluency. These authors also claim that the two techniques also enhance math skills. Racetracks are also significant to students with reading disabilities. Dodigovic (2013) also agrees that vocabulary learning is essential for those who want to acquire reading skills. They also mention that math skills are vital for success in life. Math is a significant topic for every student because it is applied in various aspects of their daily lives. Students use math skills to determine the grades, so basic skills such as addition and subtraction are significant. Flashcards enable them to understand and memorize essential formulae. Students also require flashcards to internalize the meaning of various vocabularies used throughout their learning period. Flashcards and racetracks do not require any form of technology to use them. Unlike Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby’s article Dodigovic’s article focuses on use of technology to enhance learning various vocabularies. The teachers note down vocabularies and formulae for the students to use. She discusses flashcards that are technology supported while Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby discuss those which are manual. She also points out that both teachers and students design the cards. She also mentions a third technique where students pretest their skills at the beginning of the year and later compare to the results at the end of each semester. She also points out that the self-designed cards are not efficient. This proves that Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby had accurate results concerning the accuracy of the teacher designed flashcards and racetracks. Teachers have adequate knowledge on the aspects in reading that may trouble students, so this factor makes their cards more efficient. Mechling, Thompson, and Gast (2008) also discuss efficient ways of acquiring reading skills. They acknowledge that technology based training is more efficient than the use of flashcards. Students may not have extensive knowledge on the appropriate words that enhance their studies. They may fill their cards with words that are easy to memorize and ignoring the most essential ones. They compare the SMART Board interactive whiteboard technology to the flashcard. They give a detailed description of how the technique works, and also why it is the most efficient in acquiring reading skills. Technology also enhances learning. It might have complicated processes of learning but the end result is worth the effort. Volpe, HYPERLINK “http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/simpleSearch.jsp;jsessionid=gqEdMnADO8OQlXhvEqE0aA__.ericsrv005?_pageLabel=ERICSearchResult&_urlType=action&newSearch=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=au&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=%22Mule+Christina+M.%22” o “New Search for Author Mule, Christina M.” Mule, Briesch, Joseph and Burns (2011) also discuss aspects of acquiring reading skills. They differ from the rest because they analyze both group reading and individual reading. They also compare two flashcard drills unlike the other articles where the authors compare two different techniques. The authors compare the incremental rehearsal to the traditional drill and practice to determine the efficiency of the two methods. They also determine the social validity of the two methods to determine the one that students like to use. An equal number of students prefer either of the two methods since the differences between the two methods is minimal. The authors inform readers that reading skills can also be acquired through groups; the skills do not need to be taught to individuals to improve them. Students fancy working in groups, so teaching the skills in groups is also a way of helping students with disabilities. Lindsay and Laurice also provide information on various ways of acquiring reading skills. They discuss traditional drill and practice flashcard technique, an incremental rehearsal and a ratio of known to unknown interpersal word technique. The incremental rehearsal is most efficient among groups of students. It does not enhance individual improvement. The traditional drill enhanced individual performance in reading skills. Unlike the above authors, Morgan and Moni (2007) analyze twenty techniques of improving reading skills. Morgan and Moni describe various sight-vocabulary activities that help students with reading disabilities. They also analyze other techniques that do not involve flashcards and racetracks. They believe that students need motivation to improve their reading skills. They also believe that the students need a variety of skills to help them keep up the spirit to improve their skills. Using only two or three techniques may be boring especially when they are part of the daily routine. Teachers should use different techniques on a daily basis to prevent students from getting bored. The process should involve some fun moments to ensure that the students get the motivation to develop and maintain their skills. They also provide details of the processes involved in introducing functional sight vocabulary. The authors point out the benefits of the methods mentioned in their articles to ensure that teachers used the most appropriate technique when teaching students. The articles also enlighten readers on the value on reading skills and when students begin to learn various skills.
Conclusion
Individuals who want to succeed in life must acquire basic reading skills. These skills are vital when an individual reaches the secondary stages in their lives. There are different techniques that enhance reading skills. Flashcards and racetracks are the most common techniques among students with reading disabilities. Flashcards have information on either side while racetracks have data on each cell on the track. These methods are efficient and also entertaining. Sight vocabulary can also be introduced through games such as setting the scene and waterfalls of words. Researchers carry out various studies to determine the most effective techniques of teaching reading skills. Reading skills involve various elements such as phonetic awareness, fluency, Phonics, text comprehension and vocabulary. These areas are essential because they are the basic areas that help to improve the lives of students with reading disabilities. Technology-based techniques such as the SMART Board interactive whiteboard technology also improve reading skills among students. Social validity data also helps analysts to make conclusions on the most accepted methods of learning. Reading skills are essential in everyday life because people have to understand comprehensions, essays and articles to understand what the text is talking about. They also require basic math skills in life to determine the amount of money they have or how much they will require for a transaction in places such as banks and supermarkets. Learning disabilities are not permanent. Students with these reading disabilities can acquire the skills through various techniques and processes. Teachers should show determination to these students to give them the motivation they require to improve their reading skills.
References
Dodigovic, M. (2013). Vocabulary Learning: An Electronic Word Card study. Ebsco Host
Connection, 20(1), 13. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/85448501/vocabulary-learning-electronic-word-card-study” http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/85448501/vocabulary-learning-electronic-word-card-study
Erbey, R., Mclaughlic, T.F. Everson, M. and Derby, M.K. (2011). The effects of using flashcards
with reading racetrack to teach letter sounds, sight words and math facts to elementary students with learning disabilities. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 3 (3). Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.iejee.com/3_3_2011/3_3_213_226.pdf” http://www.iejee.com/3_3_2011/3_3_213_226.pdf
Mechling, L.C. Thompson, K. L. and Gast D. L. (2008). Comparison of the Effect of Smart
Board Technology and Flash Card Instruction on Sight Word Recognition and Observational Learning. HYPERLINK “http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=183977&top=0&perid=163218” Journal of Special Education Technology, 23(1), 34-46. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=160377&ksectionid=160164&atlitid=193746” http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=160377&ksectionid=160164&atlitid=193746
Morgan, M. and Moni, K. B. (2007). Motivate Students With Disabilities Using Sight-
Vocabulary Activities. Intervention in School & Clinic, 42(4), 229. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/24186415/motivate-students-disabilities-using-sight-vocabulary-activities” http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/24186415/motivate-students-disabilities-using-sight-vocabulary-activities
Lindsay N. and Laurice M. J. (2008). Effectiveness and Efficiency of Flashcard Drill
Instructional Methods on Urban First-Graders’ Word Recognition, Acquisition, Maintenance, and Generalization. National Association of School Psychologists, 37(3), 294-308. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.nasponline.org/publications/spr/abstract.aspx?ID=1882” http://www.nasponline.org/publications/spr/abstract.aspx?ID=1882
Volpe, R. J., Mule, C. M., Briesch, A. M., Joseph, L. M. and Burns, M. K. (2011). A
Comparison of Two Flashcard Drill Methods Targeting word Recognition. Journal of Behavioral Education, 20(2), 117-137. Retrieved form HYPERLINK “javascript:popUpPublisher(‘http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1007%2Fs10864-011-9124-y’);” http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10864-011-9124-y
Literature Review on Reading skills
Lit Review
Name
Professor
Course
Date
Introduction
Reading skills are essential in any individual’s life because they enhance success. They help an individual to attain basic knowledge that will help them during their secondary phase of life. This creates the need to enhance reading skills among individuals with reading disabilities. These people need to heighten and also maintain their motivation. There are various techniques that assist students with reading disabilities to acquire reading skills. Flashcards, reading racetracks and SMART Board technology are among the various techniques that help individuals to attain reading skills. A flashcard is a collection of cards that has information such as numbers or words on each or both sides. Flash cards are efficient in classroom drills and also enhance private study. An individual may write a question on one side and the answer on the other. Flashcards can bear information such as vocabulary, formulae and historical dates. They enhance memorization since they involve spaced repetition. Reading racetracks helps to increase fluency (Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby, 2011). A comparison of various articles reveals various techniques that improve reading skills.
The effects of using flashcards with reading racetrack to teach letter sounds, sight words and math facts to elementary students with learning disabilities by Rachel Erbey, T. F. Mclaughlin, K, Mark Derby and Evanson Mary is an article that discusses how flashcards and reading racetrack affect teaching phonics, addition facts and sight words. It also states that despite the presence of ever changing technology, individuals still need basic knowledge such as reading to succeed in life. Students who struggle to attain reading skills during their earlier phases of their education usually face difficulties in the secondary stages and adulthood. Phonetic awareness is among the vital elements needed to enhance reading skills among low progress readers. Teaching reading skills is essential to students with inadequate ability in sight word reading. Basic skills in math calculations are also essential for success in life. After attaining basic operations concepts, the students should learn how to memorize facts and give fast and accurate responses to various facts. This helps students to enhance high level mastery of math concepts. Phonics, fluency, phonetics awareness, text comprehension and vocabulary are areas within reading instruction, which help to nurture successful readers. Reading racetracks, which are drills and practice processes, help to attain skills in four of the above areas. Reading racetracks include instructions on a track that has twenty eight cells, which separate information. It has a start and finish, and two images of automobiles, so the students read the information around the track in a set time. This increases fluency and accuracy in a systematic and entertaining way. Racetracks are also significant among students with various disabilities. A combination of flashcards and racetracks enhances sight word recognition among students with learning disabilities.
Vocabulary Learning: An Electronic Word Card study by Marina Dodigovic is an article that also discusses the significance of learning vocabulary to enhance language skills. However, it gives a description of a technology-supported learning study of vocabulary that involves students in preparation programs within various universities. The study design involves comparison of two flashcards activities, which are technology supported. The first one is where students acquire vocabulary from electronic cards designed by teachers. The second is where students design their cards. There is a third activity that involves comparison but excludes the cards. It uses a within sample design that pretests the vocabulary of students when the academic year begins. After identifying the essential vocabulary, the students and instructors create interactive flashcards using WordChamp, which is an online device. At the end of the semester, they also made comparisons to analyze the progress of the student. The authors of the article claim that self-designed cards are not effective.
Comparison of the Effect of Smart Board Technology and Flash Card Instruction on Sight Word Recognition and Observational Learning is an article that also discusses reading skills. This article compares the effectiveness of flashcards and SMART Board interactive whiteboard technology in teaching reading skills among young adults. Both techniques are effective in enhancing reading skills, but the SMART Board technology has a higher effect among students (Mechling, Thompson, and Gast, 2008).
A Comparison of Two Flashcard Drill Methods Targeting word Recognition by Robert J. Volpe, Christina M. Mule, and Amy M. Briesch discusses two instructional methods within the flashcard drill. The instructional methods are the incremental rehearsal and the traditional drill and practice. The article compares the efficiency of both techniques and social validity. The two methods have minimal differences in efficiency, and also an equal number of students prefer either of the two methods.
Effectiveness and Efficiency of Flashcard Drill Instructional Methods on Urban First Grades’ Word Recognition, Acquisition, Maintenance, and Generalization by Lindsay Nist, Laurice M. Joseph analyzes various instructional methods. It compares the efficiency and effectiveness of instructional methods through methods such as traditional drill and practice flashcard technique, an incremental rehearsal and a ratio of known to unknown interpersal word technique. The incremental rehearsal is an effective method among groups of students while the traditional drill enhanced reading performances.
Motivate Student with Disabilities Using Sight- Vocabulary Activities by Michelle Morgan and Karen B. Moni analyzes twenty ways of using sight-vocabulary activities among students with disabilities. The article also presents various ways of giving these students motivation to learn. Sight vocabulary is essential among these students because it helps them learn how to read and write. It also increases and maintains their zeal to take part and also persist in learning. The article describes various games such as vocabulary charts, word banks, waterfalls of words, setting the scene and vocabulary mobiles. The authors also suggest a sequence that introduces functional sight vocabulary.
All the articles seek to determine the most effective technique that assists students with disabilities to acquire reading skills. The authors of the articles carried out various researches to determine the necessary areas in reading instruction. This creates a basis for their discussion and also helps readers to relate to the information provided in each article. The articles analyze different techniques but all the authors compare the efficiency of each method to that of the flashcard technique. All the articles have different research methodology, but all the results point out the efficiency of the flashcard method. Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby (2010) discuss about the efficiency of the flashcard and the racetracks. They give descriptions of the processes involved in each method. The racetracks are designed by the instructors although there are instances when the students design their racetracks. Learning vocabulary is essential in acquiring reading skills. They also claim that the racetrack is suitable for beginners because it does not have complicated procedures. Students usually enjoy the two methods, so they acquire the skills faster and also improve their fluency. These authors also claim that the two techniques also enhance math skills. Racetracks are also significant to students with reading disabilities. Dodigovic (2013) also agrees that vocabulary learning is essential for those who want to acquire reading skills. Unlike Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby’s article Dodigovic’s article focuses on use of technology to enhance learning various vocabularies. She discusses flashcards that are technology supported while Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby discuss those which are manual. She also points out that both teachers and students design the cards. She also mentions a third technique where students pretest their skills at the beginning of the year and later compare to the results at the end of each semester. She also points out that the self-designed cards are not efficient. This proves that Erbey, Mclaughlic, Everson and Derby had accurate results concerning the accuracy of the teacher designed flashcards and racetracks. Teachers have adequate knowledge on the aspects in reading that may trouble students, so this factor makes their cards more efficient. Mechling, Thompson, and Gast (2008) also discuss efficient ways of acquiring reading skills. They acknowledge that technology based training is more efficient than the use of flashcards. They compare the SMART Board interactive whiteboard technology to the flashcard. They give a detailed description of how the technique works, and also why it is the most efficient in acquiring reading skills. Volpe, HYPERLINK “http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/simpleSearch.jsp;jsessionid=gqEdMnADO8OQlXhvEqE0aA__.ericsrv005?_pageLabel=ERICSearchResult&_urlType=action&newSearch=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=au&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=%22Mule+Christina+M.%22” o “New Search for Author Mule, Christina M.” Mule, Briesch, Joseph and Burns (2011) also discuss aspects of acquiring reading skills. They differ from the rest because they analyze both group reading and individual reading. They also compare two flashcard drills unlike the other articles where the authors compare two different techniques. The authors compare the incremental rehearsal to the traditional drill and practice to determine the efficiency of the two methods. They also determine the social validity of the two methods to determine the one that students like to use. An equal number of students prefer either of the two methods since the differences between the two methods is minimal. Lindsay and Laurice also provide information on various ways of acquiring reading skills. They discuss traditional drill and practice flashcard technique, an incremental rehearsal and a ratio of known to unknown interpersal word technique. The incremental rehearsal is most efficient among groups of students. It does not enhance individual improvement. enhance individual improvement. Unlike the above authors, Lindsay and Laurice analyze twenty techniques of improving reading skills. They believe that students need motivation to improve their reading skills. The process should involve some fun moments to ensure that the students get the motivation to develop and maintain their skills.
Conclusion
Individuals who want to succeed in life must acquire basic reading skills. These skills are vital when an individual reaches the secondary stages in their lives. There are different techniques that enhance reading skills. Flashcards and racetracks are the most common techniques among students with reading disabilities. Flashcards have information on either side while racetracks have data on each cell on the track. These methods are efficient and also entertaining. Sight vocabulary can also be introduced through games such as setting the scene and waterfalls of words.
References
Dodigovic, M. (2013). Vocabulary Learning: An Electronic Word Card study. Ebsco Host
Connection, 20(1), 13. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/85448501/vocabulary-learning-electronic-word-card-study” http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/85448501/vocabulary-learning-electronic-word-card-study
Erbey, R., Mclaughlic, T.F. Everson, M. and Derby, M.K. (2011). The effects of using flashcards
with reading racetrack to teach letter sounds, sight words and math facts to elementary students with learning disabilities. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 3 (3). Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.iejee.com/3_3_2011/3_3_213_226.pdf” http://www.iejee.com/3_3_2011/3_3_213_226.pdf
Mechling, L.C. Thompson, K. L. and Gast D. L. (2008). Comparison of the Effect of Smart
Board Technology and Flash Card Instruction on Sight Word Recognition and Observational Learning. HYPERLINK “http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=183977&top=0&perid=163218” Journal of Special Education Technology, 23(1), 34-46. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=160377&ksectionid=160164&atlitid=193746” http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=160377&ksectionid=160164&atlitid=193746