Module 2: Power Point

Emergent Literacy

In the beginning of this power point, I really liked the idea of having students reflect back to previous years of literacy. I feel as though this could be an assignment completed during the first week of school in order to gather your student’s opinions on literacy. Throughout my undergrad at Georgia College, we completed a theorist project. Reading about the different theorists reminded of important theories that are applied in the classroom. It is important to remember Piaget’s theory discussing how children’s view on reading/writing differs from that of adults when teaching literacy in the classroom. I really agree with Vygotsky’s theory that learning takes place in a social context. Often time’s students can learn just as much from collaborating with their peers than listening to the teacher. It is amazing to observe students while they are working in groups and listen to the different conversations that are taking place.

After completing a QRI with one of my first grade students, I have discovered that he is in-between the emergent and alphabetic (early reading) stage. We just started our third week of school and I am still learning the different levels that my students are on. He could not gain meaning from the text and was only able to answer certain questions when I directed him. He also had a lot of trouble reading a majority of the words in the story without my help. I found that he was demonstrating characteristics from two stages, which was discussed in the power point.

Assessment of Reading and Writing Process

After reading through this power point, I have determined the importance of observing student’s conversations between one another. This can be used as a tool to measure their vocabulary. Throughout the different readings thus far, I have found that when have I have a classroom of my own, I will keep a portfolio on each student. This will be a way for students, parents, and teachers to visually see the progress that the student has made throughout the school year. During my undergrad, one of my professors stated the importance of providing students a rubric before they begin their writing piece. This will allow the students to know the teacher’s expectations. I have seen teachers allow their students to get involved in the construction of the rubric and I found this to be very effective. This allows students to point out what is important or necessary in a writing piece. Verbally going over the rubric and the class expectations reinforces how the writing should be completed.

As a first year teacher, this reading was very helpful in how to set up an appropriate portfolio.  Allowing the students to set personal goals in their portfolios provides them with a sense of ownership of their work. If they set the goals, then most likely they will strive to achieve those goals.