Week Two Assignments

1. Reflection on your understanding of ELA instruction

With quickly changing technologies in an expanding global economy, the importance of English Language Arts (ELA) instruction has grown significantly.  More than ever, students need to learn literacy skills to read, write, speak, listen, and visually represent their thoughts and positions to prepare them for college education and careers.  It is critical for ELA instructors to guide students through proper understanding and use of the English language.  That task is indeed a comprehensive one as it includes many and equally essential elements. 

Students require reading skills that come from comprehending a variety of texts like classic literature, contemporary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction stories and articles.  Students will be exposed to a broad range of information that will expand their knowledge and perspective of the world while encouraging their creativity.  To be college and career-ready, they will also need to be proficient at logically expressing their ideas through writing in a variety of media and contexts.  Knowledge of proper and effective use of the English language including an expanded vocabulary will be necessary.  Additionally, the ability to speak clearly to convey thoughts and arguments is essential as is the ability to listen well to understand complex ideas and information.  Lastly, with so much available technology, ELA teachers should utilize current tools that will not only engage students but familiarize them with importance of learning and communicating through such devices.

2. Write a brief reflection on what you learned from the video and post it on your blog.

The kindergarten teacher, Sheila Owens, demonstrates and explains a structured process to help her young students become capable independent readers and writers.  Ms. Owens explains a literacy routine that starts with the teacher reading passages aloud to the students.  She then involves the students in reading with her in shared reading before increasing the level of reading independence even more though guided reading.  The ultimate goal is for students to read independently where the teacher’s role is merely observation.  Similarly, Ms. Owens employs a daily routine for writing where students start with interactive writing as a class before performing independent writing.  This daily routine is an effective way to foster independent reading and writing skills and can be modeled in various grade levels and for different subjects.  As the teacher demonstrates the skill before she works with students to ensure understanding proficiency, she is fostering confidence that is needed to perform the task independently.

3. Critique on the sample lesson plan on your blog.

The lesson plan titled “A Bear of a Poem: Composing and Performing Found Poetry” details a creative lesson on how students can create and perform poetry through familiar literature.  This is an effective way of engaging students in a process that would otherwise seem daunting.  This lesson plan provides a guided method that starts very innocently without the students knowing that they will create poetry utilizing existing resources.  Students will enjoy a sense of control as they select words or passages that will be incorporated into a different format.  I particularly like how this lesson culminates in a poetry performance that further challenges the students to think creatively, write meaningfully and take ownership of their collaborative work.