LRNG to Read: A Simulation for Teacher Training *

Abstract

This is a live demonstration on how to teach children who have difficulty in learning. Its purpose is to simulate for educators the experience of the disabled reader and, in so doing, help them to reach him. A small group from the audience acts as students who are taught to read a weather code for pilots. The entire audience participates by following silently, hoping they won't be asked to read aloud. Through failure they gain empathy, and in success they develop insight. Discussion follows. Time for the demonstration is about 30 minutes, plus discussion. The author wishes to point out that learning to read is not as simple as the task presented in this article. This simulation was not designed to parallel the complex task of reading. Instead, it was created to heighten the teacher's sensitivity to the importance of her role in helping the disabled reader.