Next
year, you will be teaching in a school where the vast majority of students did
not meet standard on your state's criterion-referenced test and where more than
75% of the students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. What are
some specific universal literacy strategies you may implement to ensure
students success? Include both in-class examples and things you could do
outside the classroom.
Given
this situation, I would first make sure that my room was overflowing with
print. I would have student and teacher
made posters and examples covering the walls of the classroom, and I would
ensure that my classroom library was stocked with as many age-appropriate books
as possible. I would make it my goal to
engage students’ interests in many different books and different genres of
books.
I
would be certain within the classroom to build the background knowledge of my
students when reading any text. It is
extremely important for students to have some basis of knowledge for what they
are reading. In my opinion, and from my
personal experiences, I do not enjoy or gain the most understanding from texts
that I don’t already have a schema or background knowledge about. I would build background knowledge through
drawing on students’ prior experiences, introducing ideas using pictures or
videos, or explaining something in a manner that I think they will
understand.
I
would also implement the components of a comprehensive literacy program. I find it important to have substantial
reading and writing workshop time. I
think the described students would greatly benefit from read-alouds, guided
reading, shared reading, and reading conferences. Individual, group, and whole-class
instruction would all be utilized in my classroom at different times in order
to appropriately address all the needs of my students.
My idea of how to help these students was very similar to yours. I value the importance of reading and writing workshop and through this course I have found just how much these workshops really do help struggling learners. I love how you would fill your classroom with print everywhere. This is really important for students who need extra help as they see writing and are able to read this all around them at all times.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I love reading and writing workshop time. It allows me to focus on my students in a small group setting. I wish I could have workshop throughout the entire school day. I also believe that the students would benefit from a comprehensive literacy program. The components in the program will ensure the students success. I like your idea about making sure the student has prior knowledge by pictures or videos. The students will be more engaged on the topic if they are able be creative with their own related personal experiences.
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