Emergent Literacy

By Jan. 30 (and after you have completed the required reading on emergent literacy), please post here on: (a) the most important thing you learned from this chapter and why it matters to you; and (b) 1-2 questions you have about emergent literacy based on the readings or your experiences with children.

Reading Motivation

No later than Jan. 23, and after you finish reading the four short articles on reading motivation, respond in two ways in the comment section: 1) what are the most important things you learned about reading motivation, and 2) what question(s) do you have about motivating children's reading in your own classroom some day?

Introductions

Please use the comment feature to respond to this blog post. Introduce yourself to us. What are your various responsibilities and interests? Why do you want to become a teacher (beside the fact that you like children)? What do you hope to learn from this course on beginning reading methods (please be specific)? If you have a screen name that does not include your last name, please sign your entry so we know who you are.

Week #3 (April 10): Figuring It Out

As of April 8 you have completed 6 practicum visits and are beginning to get a handle on how classrooms work. Your task for reflection this week by April 10 is to read over the questions that have been asked by your classmates in Weeks #1 and #2. Respond to one based on your observations, your experiences, your readings, your research. That is,answer your classmate's question and provide her with additional resources for finding out more. Do not answer a question that someone else has answered.

Week #2 (March 27): Getting Comfortable

Once you have completed your 3rd visit to your practicum class this week, write another reflection by Friday. What have you learned about teaching children to read or write? About motivating children's learning? Has anything surprised (pleasantly or otherwise)? What are your biggest questions at present?

Week #1 (March 18): Initial Impressions

What are your initial impressions (of the school, the teacher, the kids, anything else) after one visit? What question(s) were prompted by your first visit?

Read-Aloud

Reflect on your read-aloud. Write about (1) at least 3 +'s (what you did well, kids learned, what generally went well), (2) one wish (one thing you wish had gone better and what you might do better next time to make that happen), and (3) one question you have about any aspect of the lesson, the kids' response, your planning of the lesson, etc.