Last day of training and we got to play with cardboard. We made different levers that moved when pulled. It was an interesting thing for sure. I was frustrated with it at the beginning because I wasn't sure what the objective was. I couldn't figure out how it related to the teaching and how it could be applied to first and third graders. But, that is how kids feel when they don't understand something. They shut off and get unmotivated to participate. With help and guidance and teamwork, we were able to make the six different things.

This whole experience has been very informative in building the foundation that is going to be necessary for working with reading buddies. They all fit together to give us various aspects and skills that we will be using. I have taught reading, but this just furthered my understanding of the concepts of reading and I am really looking forward to working the kids.

Once again, I really enjoyed today's session. I found it extremely informative. While the presentation was geared to Students who were learning English as an additional Language (EAL), all the strategies that she discussed are applicable to every student that is learning how to read. It is the breaking down words, using sight words, learning to chunk words, taking picture walks, setting a purpose for reading. It is all helpful with all students. Also, it was really interesting seeing the different "Where is the school?" and using our understanding of language to decode the meaning based on our understanding.

Reading and Writing Project Day 2

I once again really enjoyed today's session. I have done running reading records before; but, it is really interesting to remember how to do them. There is a lot of valuable information about the child that can be gained from them. It is a lens into their learning and how their reading process works. It is also really interesting to hear about the different ways kids process learning - meaning, structure, and visual. It is the combination of all three that creates learning.

Reading and Writing Project... I enjoyed today's session. It is interesting to see how they classify books into different levels, without a reference to a specific grade level or age group. It is more than just simply the vocabulary. It is the syntax, illustrations, and the meaning. I remember as a kid using the five finger test and that is something that I used in my teaching.

Beliefs about yourself certainly affect motivation and learning. Teachers do (whether they realize it or not) focus on performance, rather than learning. Having been a teacher, I think that they assume that performance is a way of showing learning.

I have been on both sides. One of my students in my 5th grade class refused to speak. You could see the anxiety in her face whenever you called on her or she had to read at loud. She would freeze and not say anything. I used many different positive strategies to get her to speak: meeting with her individually, having her work with small groups that she was comfortable in, and constantly positively reinforcing when she did. By the end of year, she was able to give a oral presentation on the planet Jupiter. It was wonderful to see her progress. On the flip side, just last night on of professors said to me as I was leaving for the class that I need to speak more. I immediately thought about my student and its funny how we have this class today talking about motivation. I am not that confident in that class, because this is the first time that I am learning it. I do feel that I am learning a huge amount, even though I am not participating as often as my professor would want.

Everyone has the potential to grow. It is the positive attitudes that shape our learning.

Boy... The English Language is frustrating. It is so challenging and complicated. It doesn't make sense half the time. I am always so impressed when people learn English as a Second Language. I think that it is important to recognize that it is a challenge, especially when we are working with the students. A lot of times teachers fall into the "Expert Spot" where they forget how to learn and do not realize that it is very hard to do. They do not see the breakdown that is needed. These sessions have been important, because they are reminding us about the breakdown and the sounds.

Umm... chalk, chair, chart... I am practicing the breakdown of words, the good old phonetics sounds. I taught 5th grade for three years and I am very excited to work with early elementary levels. It is going to be a different focus. For 5th grade, it was the reading comprehension and the development of vocabulary. Now, it is that too, however the focus is going to be the word structure. If you can not pronounce the word, it is going to be very difficult to comprehend it.

I really like the book Freedom Summer. I always had a love for children books. Adults can learn a lot from these books. It was a beautifully done book, with incredible illustrates and a deep message. Even though it is geared towards older children (the metaphors were great too), one could work it to be use from the younger ones. One can take bits and pieces of books to make meaning.