First Blog

We take up the question as to what are some comprehension strategies that work well for you. First, note that comprehension is not an ah-ha moment. The ah-ha may come after mental preparation but never before. The stages of preparation are our message here today. Comprehension is more than learning a skill. We are not talking here about changing ink cartridges on your printer, but concepts like learning an accounting system, or legal and philosophical ideas. Big stuff. Comprehension is more-or-less a problem-solving event, another type of problem to be sure, but it involves all the big three components, understanding, belief, and acceptance. Mere problem-solving, on the other hand, requires only one of these. Steps I use in comprehension, though many are done simultaneously. They apply to all subjects. ·        Read the material, taking notes as needed. ·        Think about the topic over and over in your mind until you “think” you understand it. Carefully written notes are n

You have a goal; teach an ant, (sugar ant, fire ant, army ant, any one of them) how to read.   Here are some tips: 1.       First, get its attention. 2.       Show it some examples of reading sources. 3.       Read to the ant, pointing out the words as you go along. 4.       Point to specific words, pronouncing them clearly. 5.       Explain the alphabet, and discuss how words are formed.             The net result for all your careful effort is the ant doesn’t learn a thing.   The obvious reason is that it hasn’t the “brain-power” to learn reading.    Moreover, it isn’t interested even with your infinite patience. It can’t distinguish your sounds.   In short it simply can’t comprehend what you are doing.   Its brain is not wired for learning written and spoken language.   The ant’s communication is limited to smell via chemicals called pheromones .   Yet, to the ant, its world is complete and is comprehended to its max. This silly example is to serve but one purpose –