Language Arts Innovations
I have found that one of the most important things I can do as a teacher is continually develop my skills through ongoing professional development and continuing education. One of the major reasons I chose to pursue my Masters in Reading was to become a better reading teacher. I didn't feel like using a basal reading series was the answer. It felt like something was missing and what I was doing was not what my kids needed. I was frustrated because I knew in my heart that workbook pages and isolated skills were not going to make my students fall in love with books. I am always trying to incorporate new things into my classroom and find ways to improve my instruction. As I have progressed through my coursework, I have transformed my teaching practice entirely. My classroom has become a place where kids are excited and engaged readers. I have abandoned the "one size fits all" approach to reading instruction. I have worked to make my instruction meaningful, relevant, and appropriate to the levels of all the readers in my class. Some of the changes might seem simple, but they have changed the climate and culture of my classroom.
1. Independent Daily Reading
Developing my classroom library was an important innovation for me. I want to allow my students a greater selection of books for independent reading. Independent Daily Reading is a major piece of the Reader's Workshop format that we have been working on implementing at our school. In order for me to keep kids engaged and reading, I have to constantly add books to my classroom library that my students want to read. I conference with my students on a regular basis to help them find new books that interest them, discuss the books they are reading, and informally assess their comprehension using their Independent books. My students keep a Reader's notebook and practice the skills and strategies I teach them using their independent reading books. It is a lot of work to keep up with three grade levels, but I find that when they apply the strategies we are learning to books that are at their "Just Right Level” the learning is so much more meaningful.
2. Cooperative Learning and Discussion Strategies
Another innovation I have been working on is teaching my students how to work cooperatively and how to discuss literature. It was like a light bulb went on for me when I realized that I could stay up all night coming up with questions to "test" my student's comprehension of a book, but I was doing most of the thinking. I was the one pulling out all the key ideas, developing questions, and coming up with vocabulary. I did not teach my students to reflect and think about text. By teaching them discussion strategies I get to learn what they are thinking. I am constantly amazed by the insights my students share.
3. Wide Reading
one of the things I have noticed about myself as a reader is that I tend to stick to a certain type or genre of book. I very rarely try out different kinds of books unless I have to. I began observing my students and noticed pretty much the same thing. Once they found an author, genre, or series, that they liked they would get stuck and I would have a hard time convincing them to read anything else. In order to expose my students to a variety of different genres and motivate and engage them as readers I have begun to develop units of study based on authors, genres, and interests. We have read biographies, Tall tales, myths and legends, Author studies, and studied nonfiction text features using a variety of expository texts. It has done a lot for the kids and me as readers. I find myself saying, and hearing it from the students as well, “I didn't think I would like this book because it is not what I usually read, but I really enjoyed it.” I have found that I like historical fiction a lot more than I ever thought I would and read some really fascinating biographies with my class.
4. Incorporating Technology
I am working on developing an individual page on my Weebly site for each of the grade levels I teach. Ultimately, I would like that pages to include a blog, news and information about the skills we are working on, links to educational sites related to skills or strategies we are practicing, and a section displaying student work and examples of what we are doing in my class. I am working on learning new ways to make my pages interactive and engage even my most reluctant readers in discussions about books. One of the ways I want to promote dialogue about books we have been reading is through the use of a blog. Not only can I post ideas for my students to reflect on, but the kids can respond to and reflect on what the other students have to say. I am still very new to blogging and will continue to work out the bugs to make it work for my kids. In addition, I have been working on teaching my students how to use web 2.0 tools such as Webquests, Animoto, Timetoast, Slide Rocket, and Presi.
1. Independent Daily Reading
Developing my classroom library was an important innovation for me. I want to allow my students a greater selection of books for independent reading. Independent Daily Reading is a major piece of the Reader's Workshop format that we have been working on implementing at our school. In order for me to keep kids engaged and reading, I have to constantly add books to my classroom library that my students want to read. I conference with my students on a regular basis to help them find new books that interest them, discuss the books they are reading, and informally assess their comprehension using their Independent books. My students keep a Reader's notebook and practice the skills and strategies I teach them using their independent reading books. It is a lot of work to keep up with three grade levels, but I find that when they apply the strategies we are learning to books that are at their "Just Right Level” the learning is so much more meaningful.
2. Cooperative Learning and Discussion Strategies
Another innovation I have been working on is teaching my students how to work cooperatively and how to discuss literature. It was like a light bulb went on for me when I realized that I could stay up all night coming up with questions to "test" my student's comprehension of a book, but I was doing most of the thinking. I was the one pulling out all the key ideas, developing questions, and coming up with vocabulary. I did not teach my students to reflect and think about text. By teaching them discussion strategies I get to learn what they are thinking. I am constantly amazed by the insights my students share.
3. Wide Reading
one of the things I have noticed about myself as a reader is that I tend to stick to a certain type or genre of book. I very rarely try out different kinds of books unless I have to. I began observing my students and noticed pretty much the same thing. Once they found an author, genre, or series, that they liked they would get stuck and I would have a hard time convincing them to read anything else. In order to expose my students to a variety of different genres and motivate and engage them as readers I have begun to develop units of study based on authors, genres, and interests. We have read biographies, Tall tales, myths and legends, Author studies, and studied nonfiction text features using a variety of expository texts. It has done a lot for the kids and me as readers. I find myself saying, and hearing it from the students as well, “I didn't think I would like this book because it is not what I usually read, but I really enjoyed it.” I have found that I like historical fiction a lot more than I ever thought I would and read some really fascinating biographies with my class.
4. Incorporating Technology
I am working on developing an individual page on my Weebly site for each of the grade levels I teach. Ultimately, I would like that pages to include a blog, news and information about the skills we are working on, links to educational sites related to skills or strategies we are practicing, and a section displaying student work and examples of what we are doing in my class. I am working on learning new ways to make my pages interactive and engage even my most reluctant readers in discussions about books. One of the ways I want to promote dialogue about books we have been reading is through the use of a blog. Not only can I post ideas for my students to reflect on, but the kids can respond to and reflect on what the other students have to say. I am still very new to blogging and will continue to work out the bugs to make it work for my kids. In addition, I have been working on teaching my students how to use web 2.0 tools such as Webquests, Animoto, Timetoast, Slide Rocket, and Presi.