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Class Reflection

Not only is this the final blog for this class but it is my final class before student teaching in the fall.  To be honest when I saw that I was taking a course called Language Arts, I thought, really, what more can I learn about language arts?  I have taken courses on how to teach reading, how to implement creative arts into the content areas, and corrective/diagnostic assessment of reading.  This class just goes to show you can never learn too much about teaching any subject.  The most valuable thing I am taking away from this course are the resources and experience everyone has shared the last 7 weeks.  Mrs. Steffes crammed in a lot of great subject areas in teaching language arts and some great strategies that I am excited about trying.  This class really put me over the hill of blogging.  I have never been a fan and didn't see the point in blogging but thanks to this class I see it as a great teaching resource for the classroom.  The format f...
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Unit Plan Book List

1.       The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate This is a story about a silverback gorilla, Ivan, who lives in mall. This is a story of friendship, old and new, art from Ivan’s perspective, and hope for a better life. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11594337-the-one-and-only-ivan 2.  The Rough-Faced Girl by Rafe Martin and David Shannon This is an adaptation of the classic story of Cinderella. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/280313.The_Rough_Face_Girl 3.  Shakespeare Classis for Kids by Mary Lamb and Charles Lamb Shakespeare's best tales are reduced to a simple level and retold in a more modern style that children can easily read and understand. https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Classics-Midsummer-Children-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B00JMVDWIA/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494531587&sr=1-3&keywords=The+Winters+tale+for+kids 4.  A Light in the Attic by Shel...
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Lesson Plan Relfection

So, in my first year of classes, I was pretty intimidated by writing a lesson plan, let alone an entire unit!  I find that each time it gets easier and my lessons seem to me more engaging.  Sometimes when I waiver if they are 'cool' enough I bring one of my kids over and I ask, "Do you think you would enjoy doing this?"  They are my best and honest critics.  They have helped me tweak a few that they weren't too excited about what I had planned.  I have one that really likes to draw, so she reminds me to include art in reading and writing.  In this unit plan, I really wanted to incorporate a writer's workshop for third graders.  The book I chose to read as a class and complete the workshop is "The One and Only Ivan".  Although I have a tendency to moan and groan starting out, I am able to incorporate a new strategy I want to use sometime in my future classroom.  I really stri...
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Chapter 4 & 5 Reflection

Two things that really stuck out to me were Robert (Bob) Marzano's 6 steps to vocabulary acquisition and Lucy Calkins's writer's workshop. I like having a plan especially plans that are successful!  Marzano's 6 steps makes sense and it can be a universal way to teach vocabulary.  This process would work well for our ELL/ESL students as well.  I like linking drawings to terms I think it helps the students take ownership of the terms and helps them remember the term.  When I was in elementary school I was taught vocabulary by writing definitions from a dictionary and then memorizing them for a test.  These were also spelling words so part of the memorization part was writing them 5 times each.  It worked, but there are much better options know on how to teach vocabulary.  The following link provided a great detailed explanation of the 6 steps with real life examples. http://www.altonschools.org/...
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Word Wall

This first picture is a word wall of retired words with good replacements in the fry carton.  This was a new concept for me that we discussed in this course.  I had not considered worn out words, retiring them, and finding different words to use.  I think this would be very helpful for elementary students when they are writing, they can pull the strips to make sure they have the correct spelling. I think as a class we could add to this wall all year long.    I am a big fan of "I Spy", we play it a lot in the car, filling down time at the doctor office, at recess with kids that are a bit clingy instead of wanting to play.  This word wall using environmental words really appealed to me.  The students can bring in items from home to add to our wall.  This would be a great concept for preschool and kindergarten students.  I could see myself referencing letter we may be learning to the "I Spy Wall". Such ...
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Week 2 - Literacy Center

From our vocabulary lists, I chose to explore literacy centers.   I had a general idea of what they might be, but I did not expect the center to be so similar to the Daily 5 we explored for our discussion post for this week.   The first sentence of the paragraph on literacy centers was to be sure to create and maintain the centers regularly.   This is designed to keep the students engaged in a variety of literacy components.   I really liked how some of the centers were cross-curriculum by incorporating social studies and science into the centers.   During an earlier field experience I really liked how my cooperating teacher had her room organized and it included literacy centers.   At the time, she had a writing table where the students sat on milk crates with padded seats.   Under the seats were writing supplies and writing ideas.   In the class library, there was a futon where the kids could lounge and read to themselves.   In anoth...
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