Synthesis of my Literacy Course

Over the course of this fall semester of 2011, I have had the opportunity to take a Literacy course. In this course I have learned that literacy is important to all students, not just those who already have great skills. Here is an interesting side note.... Even the students doing the best in our classes don't necessarily have all the literacy tools they need to be the most successful. We determined that many of us didn't really learn how to write, study, or research until COLLEGE!! Yes, College!! I know I am included in some of that. There is so much we can add to our classes that will help our students since reading and writing are NOT really taught after 3rd grade. I find this a little overwhelming and have spent lots of time thinking about how I can change that in my FACS classes since I don't have to choose to have a lot of writing in my class. The following is what I have concluded.
Writing is important. Students need to know how to write for jobs, college, and communication. I feel that many students loose their like for writing in their early-middle school years because it becomes so technical. I can totally relate. Through writing assignments as a teacher I can encourage my students to write at their level. How? Well, first of all I think that students be graded for completion of the writing assignment no matter how big or small it may be. And second, it means I have to be willing to read each writing assignment and correct it so that words are spelled correctly and most grammar is corrected. Letting students turn in assignments until it is perfect, but still giving them the grade for completion. Encouraging students through something such as writing can be such a beneficial experience because they can build on skills they have to improve them in ways that will benefit their future. I also believe that giving students relevant writing assignments is also important. For instance writing a resume is a form of technical writing that they will use for the rest of their lives. I think that asking students to reflect on something done is class is a way get them to use the meta-cognitive skills because they have to think about what they did and why. I don't believe this has to be done alone all the time, but can be done as a group if a learning activity involved group work.

I really like cooperative based learning because again, this is a life skill. There are times in life where projects are done alone, but most often times in the work place we are working with other people. Learning to work as a team is important. One aspect of literacy that it encourages and builds is oral language, especially for students who are English Language Learners or have IEPS. Getting to hear students who already have those skills can help ELLs with their language development. This is not to mean that they never get to speak their first language or collaborate with others who speak their first language. Oral language doesn't not mean they have to give up their culture, but build skills to manipulate and be successful in the dominant culture. I believe we, as teachers, have the power to give all students this if it is our true desire.

Teaching vocabulary can be a difficult task. Using tools like KWL charts can helps students broaden their use of vocabulary. I feel that most words have multiple meanings based on the context they are used in. Helping students understand that words in the context that will be used in the class is very important. A teacher must decide which words are most important and this can be hard. The teacher must use the vocabulary for the students to caught on as well. I think giving students application and letting students apply the words is key in helping them comprehend and know new vocabulary. It may be just as important to let students reflect other circumstances the words may be used so they can learn to draw on other resources. In one lesson plan I have created, at the end of the week, students get to spend a day creating skits and role playing the definitions of vocabulary words for the week. I think doing learning experiences like this is a great way to let students bring their world into the classroom as they review and use vocabulary in a creative way.

Differentiation is something that was not only discussed in my literacy class, but also many other classes. Using differentiation in the classroom helps students access more content. Does this mean its not fair for students that caught on really quickly and are already so called "smart." No! This means you are giving all the students in the class a chance to have an equal opportunity at learning and hopefully at their level. This can be a daunting task and it is somewhat daunting to me as I prepare to student teach in a few short weeks. But I think the key for me is to provide a variety of different learning experiences throughout whatever unit I am teaching. Using informal assessment can help me see where I am lacking as a teacher to help improve my classroom and teaching techniques. I will also be reminding myself often that I DO NOT have to be "the perfect teacher" in one day or semester of student teaching. It will take time to truly use differentiation in the classroom so it helps the majority of my students.

The last topic of literacy I want to touch on is critical literacy. Critical Literacy is hard to define, but I think using many techniques and tools like the one discussed above can lead to critical literacy. Giving students the tools to be self-efficate in their learning, reading, writing, and life skills will lead to critical literacy.

I think to really sum things up, empowering students through skills they learn in the classroom to be applied outside in the real world is the key. Realizing that I can make a difference by empowering the students I will have has changed my view of what a teacher is. I truly believe with intentional effort all of this can be done. I know literacy doesn't happen by accident, but instead happens on purpose. And literacy leads to empowering students!