ERM journal question 1.

1. Respond to what you have gained through your textbook and journal article readings, class projects and discussions.

       I have gained so much through this class. Classroom discussion has been such an important and helpful part. We are constantly talking about balanced literacy and how it is useful in creating students who are thinking for themselves, engaged in the learning process, and finding that what they are learning is purposeful and useful for their lives. I have loved looking at the pictures of Ms. Huntley’s classrooms and seeing how involved and focused the children are in their school work. The learning that occurred in her classrooms jumps right off of the pictures. I hope to model my class after what I have seen and been taught in this class. I like how we re-create interactive writings, read alouds, shared readings, word sorts, and various activities in class.

            I love how we, as students, create the classroom environment by decorating the walls with purposeful writing and how we create a literate rich environment. I think this is so much more meaningful then putting up posters that are created by teachers and curriculum publishers. They may look neater, but do not act as much of  a learning tool for the children. If the children create a literate rich classroom they really own their work, take pride in it and use it.

            During class, the phrase “why would you, why wouldn’t you” has stuck in my mind and will forever be embedded into my problem solving method. Another key phrase has been, “Is it purposeful and is it doable?” this is key in keeping the children interested and active in the learning process.  Even if we were off topic it still seems like what we are talking about is very important and informational. The flexibility is just one of the great parts of our Elementary Reading Methods class.

            I really enjoyed watching the videos of classroom teaching. It gave me an idea of how my read aloud, shared reading, and interactive writing were supposed to look. This helped in scaffolding (Gerome Bruner) the way I would teach my students while doing my practicum. Even though I was skeptical of my abilities on how to teach these lessons, I always had those videos to lean back on and model my teaching after. This was very helpful and comforting. The experience that I gained through watching my practicum teacher and interacting with the children was such an encouragement that this is what I want to do with my life.

            The textbook has been great! It is an easy to read book with so many helpful teaching ideas. In the very first chapter of this book it re-emphasized what we have been learning. It said that children become the very best readers and writers in classrooms that provide a comprehensive curriculum, that model, demonstrate, and encourage, that emphasize meaning and integrate reading and writing with the content areas, and that classroom management is created by having students who are engaged in meaningful, worthwhile endeavors. This book is a great tool for future teaching instruction!