Effective Literacy Centers

           

 

        Literature is something that many children today struggle with. Some have trouble reading, some have trouble writing and some struggle with both. Teachers need to learn how to support all learners in a literacy classroom. This is a difficult task but all students are so diverse and excel or fail in so many different ways. It is the teacher’s job to dig deep and assess students to figure out what will help their students individually learn the most efficient way.

            Meeting with readers in small groups is one way to help students. This allows them to work with peers to help figure out what they are reading. The students can then discuss what they think all together. The teacher can then meet with each group to find out their progress. I think it is important for questions to be given before, during and after the reading. It is ideal that the student is making predictions before, and discussing while they are reading. It is important that they are relating the book to their own every day lives. A set of questions that they need to answer will help them in concentrating on the material. This will help the students with their reading comprehension. In addition, I think it is important for students to have a chance to do free reading. This will allow the student to think individually and make predictions on what they think and not be influenced by others ideas. It is important that the teacher meets with the students on an individual basis as well. I also think it is key to have a large group discussion on a book that the class reads together.

            Another idea could be doing books on tape. This could be for a student that struggles with the reading and is better at listening and following along. Having writer’s workshop with guided reading books is also something beneficial. If the students get the practice in groups then writing and revising will become much more natural.

            Having learning centers in a classroom is also ideal. By creating small areas in the classroom where students can work alone or together to explore literacy activities while the teacher provides small group reading instruction is also helpful. By having about 5 to 6 different centers in your room allow the kids to become more versatile. They will rotate through centers according to their schedule.

            Students need guidance, structure, routine and practice in order to become experts a literature. It surely does not happen over night and is something that students will get after time, hard work and practice.

My Perfect Classroom

  

 

    Ever since I was ten years old I knew I wanted to be an Elementary School Teacher. I remember sitting at home and envisioning what my classroom would be like. I wondered what the walls would look like and how my students would feel in class everyday.  First off the most important thing in creating my perfect classroom would be to make a safe and fun learning environment. I want my future students to be excited to come to class everyday and want to learn and excel at everything they do. I want each student to always feel comfortable and never feel threatened by anyone or anything.

    Visually I want my room to be bright so that students will feel happy. Dark gloomy colors and atmosphere make people sad and  not attentive.  I hope that there will be a window in my class so that the natural light comes in. I want my students artwork to be on the walls. I do not want to much clutter in my class. Having a clean environment will allow students to work best. I want them to feel like the work they complete is important. I will treat my classroom as a community. With this being said I want my students to see themselves when they look at the walls. Bulletin boards with weekly assignments such as math or writing is a necessity.  For example, I plan to post the spelling words for the week on the walls so that they students can see them everyday. I hope to have a few computers in my classroom so that the students can use technology to complete work. With that being said I hope to have a smart board so that students can interact while doing lessons. Students think smart boards are fun, so by having them will make them want to participate. I want to have a map on the wall so that students can put a tack in the place that they came from. I want students to feel accepted and that everyone cares about their culture.

    My classroom will have different centers for different tasks that I ask them to complete. When my students do free reading I want them to be able to go wherever they want in the room. Maybe I will have a comfortable rug that students can sit on. In addition, I want to have a corner where I can read allowed to the class. I want to have a big enough space where everyone has room. In this center I wish to have two chairs that are more comfortable. The two students who are the most well behaved that day will be allowed to sit in them. This will give the students good incentives in wanting to do well. Depending on the grade level I teach I want to have a few chairs set up at a table so that students are able to listen to books on tape. I plan to change the arrangement of desks every few weeks so that my students will have the opportunity to work with other students.  I also want to have a few long tables so that the students are able to work together.

   The environment of my classroom must contribute to the physical and positive learning of the students. My room will embrace the idea that anything a child says is important. I plan to adapt their instruction to meet the needs of their learners. I plan to work hard to make the curriculum relevant to the lives of the students. For me, an ideal school environment recognizes student success is the complex goal to achieve. 

 

                                    

 

 

My Memory of Language Arts.

    Language Arts and I have always been somewhat close. Growing up reading and writing everyday made me gain appreciation for the subject. Writing particularly was always something I excelled in. In Elementary School my Language Arts teachers had a way of teaching that inspired to me to love and always want to write. By allowing me to free write and be creative with my work helped me to enjoy writing and gain a passion for it. As a writer I have always struggled with the grammar portion. I do alright, but that is my least favorite aspect of it. 
    On the other hand reading was something I always struggled with. I loved to read but I had a really hard time understanding what I was reading. I remember having to read the same page a couple times before I could fully comprehend it. I was always hesitant when it came to reading allowed. I did not want to mess up in front of the class. As I got older I became more confident with my reading skills. Wither I read a magazine, novel or poetry I always tried to practice my reading so that my skills would be just as good as my writing. In high school I finally had an appreciation for reading and finding a good book. Then my teacher forced our class to read specific books and do numerous amounts of book reports on topics that did not interest me. This made me dislike reading for a while but I soon got over my hate because life isn't always perfect and sometimes you have to do things that you don't want to do. 
     Reading books about topics that I could personally relate to made me want to read more and more. Books about woman my age facing similar problems turned me into a book worm. I also enjoy reading books about real life situations. Books about ancient times and history are genres that I never really got into. The movie, Freedom Writers inspired me to free write and also be as good of a Language Arts teacher as the woman in the movie.
      English classes are some of my favorite courses to take here at SCSU. So far I have taken six English classes here and enjoyed them all. I have dabbled in literary analysis, poetry, creative writing and African American literature courses. I plan to minor in English and hopefully continue to love it everyday when I am a teacher.
      When I become a Language Arts teacher I want my students to want to read and write. I want to make this subject something they look forward to and want to do in their personal time. I feel that working in writing groups and having reading circles is a piece that will help the children enjoy the subject with their peers. In addition, I feel that reading allowed to my class will be very beneficial. Stopping to ask them questions about pictures, what has happened and what they can predict will help them to become star readers for their next level of schooling. I hope to give my future students a journal so that they can free write as they please.