Hello Everyone,
Please excuse my voice. I have been fighting a flu or something for a couple of days now so I sound a little funny (at least to me)
Roxanna
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About Me
- Roxanna Brooks
- Strong, sensitive, nurturing and caring all describe this graduate student and single mother of three Roxanna Brooks. Currently, I am a candidate in the Masters program at Coppin State University in pursuit of my Masters of Arts in Teaching degree. Obtaining my degree in teaching will fulfill a desire I have had of becoming a teacher since I was in elementary School. One of my favorite elementary school teachers was my second grade teacher Miss Margaret Thornton. Miss Thornton was an excellent teacher who made it her personal mission that each one of her students was able to read above their current grade level and with comprehension after leaving her class. Miss Thornton is the type of teacher that I have always wanted to become because she went above and beyond her duties to ensure that her students were successful. It is my hope that this class experience will equip me with the tools and resources so that I too will be able to exhibit those same standards of excellent in my classroom.
Thank you Roxanna, I agree that teachers need to actively seek out strategies to improve their endeavors. Also, your comments about using less intimidating books such as magazines, commics, and picture books can serve our students as stepping stones to activities in chapter books will be helpful to many teachers. Finally, suggesting that creating reading groups and reading contests can assist many teachers to encourage their students to choose to read more initially - and serve to open their lives up to reading on their own for pleasure, as a result.
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ReplyDeleteagree that teachers should always act as researchers, continuously questioning the efficacy of our efforts, and the students' achievements as a result of those efforts.You also hit the nail on the head when you say that the ultimate goal should be to build a supportive community: students, parents, and teachers!
ReplyDeleteThe use of contests or book clubs is a great idea to make reading "cool." I know there is a 100 book challenge that is used at my school, but it seems like as soon as the contest is over, the interest is lost. I think schools need to make sure they have a place for the kids to go where they can feel comfortable reading. Reading rooms/corners are a good start. The library at my school is not even used.....we have books, but no librarian (due to budget issues). The kids are not allowed to use it. What do we do to increase access to books so we can spark that interest??
ReplyDeleteHow do we have expectations of our students if we lack expectations of ourselves? I think that you had great ideas in you post regarding the teacher being the researcher. The teacher should be just as active and engaged as they expect the students to be. In saying that, teachers should never stop learning themselves and continue to develop innovative avenues for all students not just those who love reading.
ReplyDeleteDigging in to what motivates students can be a great tool for fostering reading. Contests, grops, clubs and rewards can improve many things. Most of all it will drive and improve literacy.
ReplyDeleteI am like you because I like to read as well but the text or writing must appeal to me. I cannot read my credit cards print on my statements because the print is small and very wordy. But reading about what interest me is like I am adding something to my life even through I am not in the story. This is what engagement is about. So teachers to must ask what really interest students to read. Does the text appeals to the students interest or give them excitement, adventure, or personal value? If we can answer some of these questions then literacy would be a gateway to develop students thinking and learning.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you fully when you commented on the factthat students should have more leisure type materials in order to engage reading independently without the massive use of the traditional textbooks which tend to be very boring.
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