Literacy Blog

Disciplinary literacy is crucial for content area reading and invites high levels of thinking but because of academic language and content specific words which are critical in understanding new concepts, informational text must be considerate, user friendly, organized, nicely presented and of course interesting to promote comprehension instead of intimidation. One of the tasks of an exceptional teacher is selecting textbooks with her students in mind. Not only must the writing style be appealing for the intended age group, but the activities should encourage students to learn further. The text should also present knowledge that is applicable to their future as well as be inclusive by showing diversity in images, and in the same regards be able to generate interest with stories and visuals. Readability formulas such as Fry Readability Graph and Lexile Scales can further assist teachers select age and level appropriate texts, but the teacher should mainly rely on her expertise and ...

In chapter 8 we come to know that larger vocabulary knowledge aids comprehension. In the classroom, children can come across vocabulary in two ways: through definitional knowledge and the ability to relate new words with known words, and contextual and conceptual knowledge through exposure in as many language contexts as possible as well as experiences both direct and vicarious. Moreover, exposure to transliteracy increases vocabulary. There are six principles that guide the instruction of vocabulary: 1. choosing words that students will use and encounter most often and are useful to them, 2: teaching words in relation to other words so students learn shades of meaning, 3: teaching words that relate to their background knowledge as it is an anchor point, 4: teaching words both pre and post reading activities, 5: teaching words systematically and in depth, and lastly helping students play with words to awaken enthusiasm for words. There are several instructional strategies literacy fa...

When a classmate and I walked into Ms. Paige’s math class she was very welcoming, greeted us with a smile and asked her students to make room for us. Though her students looked like a cooperative unit, as I scanned the room I saw that there was a modular separation between her and her students, with the students seated in rows and her predominantly at the board. Ms. Paige had a great command of her class and all her students were surprisingly engaged though they were middle school children seated in class during the Summer. Part of the reason for this engagement was due to her confident tone and a volume that was able to project clearly to even the students in the back of the room. Another reason for their engagement and trust in their teacher appeared to be because Ms. Paige seemed eager to build relationships with her students by remembering all of their names when she called on them, and encouraged them in a patient and gentle manner if they made a mistake. Her assessm...

When reading a text, there are things that the author presents that we can agree upon that inform our understanding of the text or subject matter, things that we argue with that detract from our understanding of the main idea, things we, the author or the subject in question assumes that either help convey information, or detract from understanding the very things that the book presents and things that we aspire towards in our own lives. When a group of literacy education students and I began to evaluate chapter 3 of the text “Reading and Learning to Read”, there were several things we agreed upon with the author about meeting the literacy needs of diverse learners. The most important element of this chapter was that it is dire for literacy teachers to allow ELL students to maintain a strong identification with their language and culture because then they have a more positive self concept about their ability to learn. Not only did we agree that a teacher should help maintain t...

In Chapter one of “Reading and Learning to Read”, the author focuses on how belief systems shape an individual as a learner and educator of literacy. For teachers specifically, it is important to examine how their belief system affect their instructional decisions because they in turn affect the students as learners. There are two models of instruction: Systematic and Constructivist. Systematic instruction is a logical sequence with a defined trajectory and the text is the starting point. The Constructivist instructional method focuses on the needs of the individual student with the teacher as facilitator. The instructional methods also inform models of reading for both teachers and students. These three models are Bottom-Up, Top-Down, and Interactive. The Bottom-Up method has a Systematic instructional leaning, whereas the Top-down is more Constructivist. The Interactive model is preferred because it combines the best of both the Bottom-up, and Top-Down method to better promote tr...

I find it difficult to recall my first experience reading the same way I do not remember how or when I learned to walk. I suppose it was something I began doing and never stopped. Reading, like walking is something I do, and just like walking, something I hope I am doing for the rest of my life. Reading has always been a way for me to explore new worlds, and between the pages of a book it has granted me permission to enter unfamiliar spaces. I don’t remember the first word I read but I do have some memories of people that encouraged my literacy. I can recall my mother telling me stories which did not come from any books, but were inspired from her life experiences. Hearing her tell these stories suddenly opened up new historical landscapes in my mind that we could share. Perhaps in this way my mother taught me the importance of listening in forming connections. I can also recall my sister, who retained some Hindi language literacy from our early childhood in India, reading to me ...

While watching this classroom, I was instantly made aware of how different the dynamics seem to be in an Art classroom than in the other two class videos. For example, while she was introducing the new project, the students were still working on other Art. At first I thought this would not be something I would allow in my classroom but it seemed it did not affect student engagement, as the students were still able to answer her questions with thoughtful responses and add on to things the teacher or their classmates said. The teacher also gave the students background information on the project regarding the American History it was inspired by, a few social, economical, and political tie ins, as well as encouragement in relating this American Flag project to their personal lives and extended heritage. She even encouraged them further to explore their heritage by assuring them that “America is often referred to as a Cultural Mosaic”. I also appreciated how she had a democratic approa...

The video observation began with a Middle School teacher thanking a student for showing respect to his classmates. I think this is a great way to have rapport with your students because it highlights things they are doing right, instead of only the things they need to correct, as teachers are sometimes guilty of doing when they are trying to manage a classroom. It also reminded me of Rita Pierson’s Ted Talk where she mentioned she would rather put +2 instead of -12 on a student’s paper because it focuses on what the student was doing right, which she believes leads students to understand that their teacher is their champion. I also observed this was a very physically active classroom in both how the teacher wanted his students to follow directions, for example standing up when finished with work, scripted and humorous responses involving dance gesture, as well as moving around the room with different partners during activities. This technique is something I would try to i...

On their first day of 9th grade English , the teacher began the period not in the classroom but at the door greeting the students by name and individually stating the expectations and the assignment with the catchy phrase, “Silently Start the Survey”. His approach puts him in charge of his classroom because he states what is expected of them starting with their very first encounter. One way I would improve on his approach would be to greet them with a smile. He also establishes himself as an English teacher willing to use every moment to teach, by using an alliteration for his instructions. Once his students have entered the class, he manages both their literacy progress as well as their behavior by walking up and down the rows, giving verbal warnings, assisting any student in need of extra attention, reminding students to track the speaker and extending positive reinforcements when the class is on task and following procedures. Not only does he explain the assignment verbally, but ...