Read aloud
WOW Books
In ECI 540, Reading in the Elementary School, I discovered new books through the WOW Books assignment. I explored many diverse, high quality books. This project emphasized the importance of reading aloud to students. As Steven Layne states, In Defense of Read-Aloud: Sustaining Best Practice, it is our responsibility as educators to read out loud quality, diverse, complex texts from ALL genres to our students. Reading aloud to students models excitement and interest to students.
Interactive Read Aloud
In ECI 541, Reading in the Content Areas, I led an interactive read aloud. This project highlighted the importance of read alouds. Reading aloud to students not only helps build foundational skills but also allows them to enjoy and be engaged in the book.
CHOICE
Action Book Club
In ECI 540, Reading in the Elementary School, I participated in a book club and presented ways we could put into action what we read about. I read Passionate Readers: The Art of Reaching and Engaging Every Child by Pernille Ripp. One main point of this book is that teachers should fill their classroom libraries with quality books. Books should be windows for kids to familiarize themselves with other cultures and mirrors children can see themselves in. Another important point Ripp emphasized was choice. She believed students should have choice in engagement, product, setting, timeline and assessment. Choice in engagement means how they access the learning. Choice in product is how they show their understanding. Choice in setting is how they want to learn. Choice in timeline means when they are ready to be assessed. Lastly, choice in assessment is how and what she assesses. It is important to provide students with quality text and choice for them to be eager to read.
Mentor Text
WRAP Lesson Plan
In ECI 509, Teachers as Writers, I planned and implemented a writing lesson plan. This lesson plan focused on the use of mentor texts. In this lesson, I used Rollercoaster by Marla Frazee to model to the students small moment writing. I also used Owl Moon by Jane Yolen to model using details in writing. Using mentor texts in this lesson plan allowed students to be excited to work on their own writing. Having high quality text to model good writing to students is an effective way to engage students in their learning and writing.