I feel like I have come from this class learning a lot of practical things that I can actually use in my classroom one day. From discovering books that have deep meaning to them and activities behind them (like Ring. Yo!) to actually learning the way the brain reads - I feel like I am better equipped to one day teach. This is actually the first class that I have learned countless things that will help students relating to literacy. One specific example I can think of was the picture activities Pranuthi, Maria, and Taylor had us do tonight. English-language learners would benefit from this sort of activity because it contributes to their funds of knowledge (AHA, ANOTHER thing I learned about in this class). I just feel really enriched from taking X470.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how much my graphic on the reading process deepened my understanding. At first I felt like things were cloudy but then when I made the graphic, it all became clear!

I found a lot of value in watching the teachers in their classrooms trying to figure out what type of teaching model they are implementing. I have never thought about teaching models. Honestly, I just felt like teachers did whatever they felt like doing. When looking at the teaching models they're implementing, you can learn a lot. For example, you can see what important point they're trying to focus on (like the teaching drilling the letters sounds vs. the teacher having students make connections with books). One could also evaluate their own teaching style and think to themselves, "Am I focusing on what's important?"

It seems like all I do for classes anymore is read, read, and read. The information from all of these different resources that I am required to read all blurs into one giant mess in my head. We have learned during this course different strategies that help me remember what I have read. I especially enjoyed the Question, Surprise, Observation, and Argument strategy that we did on Tuesday. I have really appreciated learning these strategies for my own personal use and because they are useful strategies to forward to my future students. I know specifically with English-language learners they will have a hard time remembering all that they have read, so teaching them these comprehension strategies will really make them take away the important points from what they are reading.

I believe it was our instructor that said "good teaching is messy" last class. I just wanted to title my blog post that because I agree with the statement. There is no such thing as a set way of teaching that works for every learner. As teachers, we'll have to adjust and be flexible to reach all learners and provide them with the instruction that works best for them.

Hello everyone and welcome to my Blog! I am really excited to be in my first class that integrates ESL and Reading Dual License students.