Week 3 - Assignment 1

I enjoyed watching the video of Ms. Perez’s class. It was very informative and I picked up some great teaching skills.

Shared Reading: Video Segment

1.       This shared reading activity engages students at all levels, since all the students read aloud together with the teacher.  This makes the students feel like real readers even if they can’t individually read a specific word as a whole group they can copy. This also helps readers at different levels of literacy development to recognize the sounds of new blends and words. Ms. Perez uses cute poem that rhymes so children can have an easier time with reading the words.

2.       Ms. Perez supports student problem solving skills by modeling to students how to put together different sound blends. She makes her students use what they already know and apply it to the new material. Ms. Perez also uses visual imagery to engage and help te student in their problem solving.

3.       Shared reading can be used to promote literacy since it allows the student to learn new words and rules by imitating the teacher. Students can hear the correct pronunciation of each word.

Guided Reading: Video Segment

1.     Ms. Perez believes it’s important for students to verbalize their own strategies because it helps them internalize what they’re doing. Also when you verbalize something you think about what just helped you figure out the word and will use that in the future when you’re in a similar situation. To help students build meaning in the text she asked them questions and allows them to answer based on the pictures in the book. She also has discussions with them about what they just read this helps the students make meaning with the text.

Differentiated Instruction: Video Segments

1.       Ms. Perez has different learning centers where children on different levels can all have a chance to learn on their individual level. These activities are fun and engaging and they include reading and writing skills. She has activities based on different multiple intelligence's so students can really have the ultimate learning experience. Students can write sentences or books on what they just read. They can also play games that have to do with a previous reading lesson.

 

Assessment: Video Segment

1.       Ms. Perez assess her individual students periodically to get an accurate idea of what level the child is up to and how much they’ve learnt. With this information she can now go ahead and make lesson plans that will fit the learning needs of each student. This also helps her make new goals for her students and see what is and what’s not working with each child. The class profile can be used to make sure students on the same level are grouped together. It can also be used to make sure no student is not on grade level. The class profile allows for the teacher to make sure the class is advancing and learning as a whole.

2.       Student assessment is vital in every classroom. I think both informal assessment such as kid watching and formal assessment is equally important and will implement both into my classroom. Ongoing assessments allow for teachers to have a clear picture of what their students have learnt and what needs more time and practice.

EDLI 635 "A bear of a poem"

In a creative writing class I was in, my teacher introduced us to found poetry.
we created our own poems and read them to the class. It was a fun writing activity
and the poems were adorable some of them really funny. In the lesson "A bear of a poem"
I feel the teacher dragged out this lesson for too long. When a lesson gets too dragged
out the students loose their excitement and become less motivated to perform well.
However since the students will be reading their poems to their parents at the end of the week
this can still keep the initial enthusiasm of the students. I enjoyed reading through the lesson plan, very well thought out.

EDLI: Video - Reflection

I enjoyed watching the video of Ms. Owens kindergarten class. I was amazed at the level of reading and writing the children were on. This was obviously because of Ms. Owens great instruction and optimism that each student is already a reader and writer. Having a class filled with ELL students can be very challenging; however I saw great methods of gradual release of responsibility and learning comprehension being implemented. Ms. Owen encourages her students to use the first language to help them understand what they are learning in English. I thought that was a great idea since a student might understand the concept, yet since the student is still learning English, they can’t find the correct words to use and show their understanding. I liked the way Ms. Owen used collaborative learning by allowing students to share their writings and illustrations with the class. Collaborative learning proves to bring students to a higher learning and comprehension level. Ms. Owen classroom was a welcoming and friendly environment; definitely a place where students were motivated and engaged in their learning.

EDLI 635: Instruction of ELA - Reflection

ELA is something students need to master and be proficient at, in order to become successful individuals in their careers and lives. ELA teaches critical thinking skills in reading as well as creative writing, language and speaking/ listening skills. It is how people communicate and how people understand what they are reading. The standards provide and outline the knowledge and core concepts in detail. ELA can be taught in all subject areas and it is important that teachers of all studies implement ELA into their lessons. Language can’t just be passively taught. The students must receive the opportunity to use their new language in different contexts. Dialogue with new vocabulary, using language their taught in writing and critical thinking are all important factors of ELA. The standards of ELA help teachers have a clear goal for their students learning.