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“Reading is an integral part of basic education, it is the
foundation for all disciplines,” declared Don Timothy Buhain,
chief operating officer of Rex Book Store, Inc.
But the bigger picture goes beyond basic reading
skills, Buhain told the more than 100 educators representing over 70
schools who attended a learning workshop hosted by the company
recently.
He said numerous researches have shown fluency
is the crucial link between mere word recognition and having a real
understanding of written text.
As Buhain explained it, reading fluency or the
ability to easily read and understand a text accurately and quickly
is an important component of reading instruction. If a student is
not reading at his grade level, he will not be able to comprehend
other disciplines written at that same grade level, he said. And if
a student cannot read fluently, more often than not he will also not
be able to write fluently.
Fluency adds meaning—the fluent reader groups
words in meaningful ways as he reads, and in the process is able to
access the deeper meaning of the text, Buhain elaborated.
Studies have proven that repeated oral reading
is an excellent strategy in fluency development, because it bridges
the gap between reading and comprehension. Fluent, strong readers
become more confident writers and speakers and, therefore, more
productive students.
With a clear view perspective on the role of
fluency in educational excellence, and with its vision of
contributing to the development of Philippine education, Rex Book
Store saw the opportunity to bring in a new line of materials that
will empower educators and learners in all levels across the
country—through Teacher Created Materials (TCM).
TCM is a line of research and standards-based
educational books and resource materials created by teachers, for
teachers and students at all grade and skill levels. It has been
sold around the world for the past 20 years and has received
numerous recognitions for its valuable contribution to educational
development.
Buhain said: “We know that educators today
need practical and easy-to-use materials to supplement curriculum
implementation and enhance instruction. We are happy to provide them
access to materials that reflect the latest research, best classroom
practices, achievement-oriented methodologies and proven teaching
strategies. With our introduction of the TCM product line, we are
convinced that we will be able to help them reach and teach every
student in the classroom.”
TCM’s flagship product, Building Fluency
Through Reader’s Theater, is an excellent tool that focuses on
teaching reading fluency, comprehension and vocabulary. Endorsed by
world-renowned fluency expert Dr. Timothy Rasinski, Reader’s
Theater is an interactive program that engages students in repeated
reading. It makes use of thematic scripts covering key content
areas: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Math.
Rex Book Store, through its sister company, Rex
Book Store, Inc. International, formally launched the Teacher
Created Materials products during a workshop on Building Fluency
that the company mounted recently. Conducted by education expert
Eric LeMoine, the workshop featured lectures on the basic elements
of reading, teaching strategies and the tools needed to build
fluency.
The Teacher Created Materials product line is
exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Rex Book Store, Inc.
International.
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