Marilyn Jager Adams

Definition

Marilyn Jager Adams is a renowned scholar in the field of education and cognitive psychology, particularly known for her contributions to understanding reading comprehension and the processes involved in literacy development. Her work emphasizes the importance of metacognition, strategies for effective reading, and how knowledge interacts with comprehension to enhance learning outcomes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Adams proposed that effective reading comprehension requires not only decoding skills but also the ability to engage in higher-order thinking processes.
2. Her research has highlighted the significance of background knowledge in facilitating understanding of texts, suggesting that what readers know influences how they interpret new information.
3. Adams developed instructional strategies that focus on fostering metacognitive skills in learners, enabling them to self-regulate their reading processes.
4. She has contributed to the design of educational assessments that evaluate not only reading fluency but also comprehension abilities and strategy use.
5. Her work emphasizes that reading is an interactive process between the reader and the text, where comprehension evolves through active engagement and reflection.

Review Questions

• How does Marilyn Jager Adams’ work highlight the role of metacognition in reading comprehension?
  • Marilyn Jager Adams emphasizes that metacognition is crucial for effective reading comprehension. She argues that readers need to be aware of their thinking processes while reading, which includes monitoring their understanding and employing strategies to improve comprehension. By fostering metacognitive skills, learners can better navigate texts, identify when they do not understand material, and take steps to clarify their understanding.
• In what ways does Adams’ research connect background knowledge to reading comprehension outcomes?
  • Adams' research illustrates that background knowledge significantly impacts reading comprehension outcomes. She argues that when readers have relevant prior knowledge about a subject, they can more effectively interpret and integrate new information from texts. This connection means that educators should focus on building students' background knowledge alongside teaching reading skills to enhance overall comprehension.
• Evaluate the implications of Marilyn Jager Adams' contributions to educational practices concerning reading instruction.
  • The implications of Marilyn Jager Adams' contributions are profound for educational practices related to reading instruction. Her emphasis on metacognition suggests that teaching students to be self-aware about their reading strategies can lead to better comprehension and retention of information. Moreover, her focus on background knowledge underlines the need for curriculum design that incorporates thematic content, allowing students to build connections between what they read and what they already know. Ultimately, her insights encourage a more holistic approach to literacy education that prioritizes cognitive engagement and strategy development.

Related terms

Metacognition: The awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes, especially in relation to learning and comprehension.

Reading Strategies: Techniques employed by readers to enhance their understanding and retention of text, such as summarizing, questioning, and predicting.

Cognitive Load Theory: A theory that describes how the amount of working memory used during learning affects comprehension and retention.