Top-down:reading theory

What is reading?

Reading is one of the core components of early childhood education. From identifying letters to working on speech patterns, language acquisition in young children is dedicated to getting them to understand how spoken sounds and written words relate to each other and to cultivate a comprehension of reading.

Reading theory

Just like teaching methodology, reading theories have had their shifts and transitions. Starting from the traditional view which focused on the printed form of a text and moving to the cognitive view that enhanced the role of background knowledge. Finally, these theories culminated in the metacognitive view. It is based on the control and manipulation that a reader can have on the act of comprehending a text.

The Top-Down reading model

In the past students learned to read by-tracing letters, sounding out letters, of beginning to sound out words and eventually reading books of increasing size, density, and abstract content.

This is the traditional model of teaching reading. In many ways, it is effective, but as research into cognitive processes continues to develop and teachers seek ways to engage all learning styles.

The top-down theory

The top-down theory of reading is designed to: Teach children to read using the theory that it is the brain of the reader and not the words on the page that they see that make sense of what is written. The goal of the top-down reading theory is to get students to become active readers.

When students select a certain text, they have to use clues beyond sounding out words to understand what they are reading. They need to bring themselves and their experiences to what they know of the subject matter.

The top-down theory of perception posits that it is this connection between what a reader’s unique brain perceives when reading and the words on the page that produces meaning

Let’s practice

https://www.eslfast.com/eslread/ss/s018.htm

1. Get into the link above and follow the instruction.

2. Read the title of the article.

3. Read the first paragraph.

4. Read the first sentence of each paragraph.

5. Finally, read the entire article for more detailed information.

The End!