Module 7: Opitz and Article

            One of the key concepts that I took away from the readings of Opitz text was the importance of conducting informal assessments on students throughout the school year. Throughout this particular chapter (5), I made key notes on keeping a journal on children, preparing lessons around needs for instruction, forming lessons on interests, and getting students excited about reading. I feel as though in order for students to be engaged throughout different readings, they need to be able to relate to the text and make personal connections. One thing that I am going to do next year when I have a classroom of my own is make a portfolio with each student pointing out the strengths and weaknesses with students. This allows you to take writing samples throughout the entire school year and it allows students to take ownership of their learning. I really like how the text discusses having students choose their best work. This provides students with self-confidence and excitement to see the progress that they are going to make throughout the entire school year.

The text provided an example of a reading interest survey in order for students to complete. I love how the entire class is laid out in this format so that you can see the similar interests between students as well as what is most popular as a class.  If the teacher is able to become aware of students interests for books and writing ideas/topics, they will be more inclined to want to complete the assignment and be engaged. Something else that I took away from the text is making sure to have informal interviews with students throughout the school day. I really like how the text discussed talking with students on whether or not they are enjoying school and the lessons that are being conducted in school.  Making a point to interview the student several times throughout the school year is very important to make sure that students are in fact enjoying your lessons and able to make connections to them.

Throughout that discussed strategies for adult literacy, the author stressed the importance of engaging students in active learning so that they use these strategies in their own instruction with their students. This type of active learning allows students to talk, listen, write, etc. about the content that is occurring within the classroom. This relates to Opitz text in that the text discussed the importance of conversing with students on their opinions of what is occurring in the classroom. The text and the article were very similar in that they both stressed the importance of student attitude throughout the classroom and incorporating their interests.

Article: http://ehis.ebscohost.com.proxy.kennesaw.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&hid=20&sid=ba56205f-65df-4015-8160-733e0d49a514%40sessionmgr110

Engaging Teachers as Learners 

Module 7: Robert Slavin Video

Reading strategies and classroom management strategies are key components for success for all learners. I agree with this in that these are very important concepts in order to have a successful learning environment. Not only are the school employees involved with this, but also the community is involved as well which I believe is very important. Before this video, I was not aware how many states were involved in this program for success for all learners.  I agree with Slavin in that it could be very difficult that this program is getting so large that they are not on a first name basis of each principal. I can’t imagine how much professional development that takes place with this program. 

Slavin stressed the importance of the amount of time that it takes in order to train individuals in order to improve the quality of the program.  I agree with Slavin on how important it is to allow individuals that are on site to be involved with the program and facilitate success for all.  I found that the most important thing that I took away is when Slavin said that the things that were thought of in order to create this program was common sense. It can be completed in other professions. 

Module 7: Comprehension Strategies

            I found it quite interesting to read that particular paragraph and immediately be assumed that I was going to be able to answer comprehension questions. First of all, I did not have background information on the reading and therefore I did not have an interest while reading the paragraph. It goes to show how important it is to provide students with background information and really get students excited to read the text. It is amazing how many teachers I have seen do this before and I even remember doing this when I first started student teaching. I immediately learned the importance of hooking your students into the reading. I agree with the text in that when you are able to connect the text to your students, they are more engaged in the reading as well as are more likely to have an interest to read the text. One of the teachers that my students rotate through stresses the importance of creating images while they are reading a particular text. She is the speech teacher and she always allows the students time to close their eyes and visualize what is occurring in the reading. I have used some of these strategies when I am working with my small groups.

            Throughout the different readings, I am constantly allowing students to predict what is going to occur next in the text. I also provide students the opportunity to create questions themselves in order to ask their classmates. They love being able to do this and see it as more as a game rather than gaining reading comprehension skills. 

Module 7: Perspectives of the Learning Process

            I agree with the power point in that one of the most critical aspects of assessment is allowing the student to view how he/she performed. If they are not provided this opportunity, how are they supposed to learn from their mistakes? Also, students should be allowed to give their opinion of what they would like to learn or gain from the material that is being taught. I feel as though the parent questionnaire that was provided in the power point could be modified in order to ask appropriate questions concerning your students. I would definitely be able to alter some of the questions in order to best meet my students. These questions could be very beneficial to send home in the very beginning of the school year in order to get to know your students from day one. I was required to send home a parent questionnaire form in my undergrad and I was able to immediately form connections to my students. 

Module 6: Assessment and Instruction

             When one of the first quotes was introduced that teachers spend too much time assessing, I thought to myself, how do you know whether or not your teaching is effective and the students are attaining the information that you are presenting in the class. Assessments do not have to occur from standardized testing, but rather having everyday assessments throughout the school day.  I agree that assessment is a part of the learning process as well as that good teachers are constantly providing students with feedback on how they are performing. Throughout my undergrad, we had to complete a variety of informal as well as formal assessments. Some of the assessments that I completed everyday was a simple raising of the hands, holding up a card (which the students saw as a game and enjoyed), ticket out the door, etc. This allowed me to gather whether or not students comprehended the material or whether or not I needed to review certain areas. I loved the quote for teachers as well as students to , “focus on assessment as learning.” Teachers should not see certain forms of assessment as a hassle or even to stress students out, but rather to measure student’s success. 

Module 6: A Flipped Classroom

            This video begins by discussing how this teacher was spending time teaching to the middle group of the class. This is so ironic in that we were just discussing this issue in my current math course that I am taking. Often time’s we are only reaching the middle group of learners and boring the high learners as well as the low learners.  The material was not challenging the higher-level students and the lower leveled students needed more help in order to be more successful. I found it interesting that 90% of the teaching time was used in front of the classroom where students were not applying themselves in the application of math problems. I love the idea of allowing students to be introduced a lesson beforehand, but I think it may be rather difficult to complete with the lower level grades. I didn’t know if this were to be completed at home or maybe the day before a lesson was introduced in the class. I do however love the idea that the teacher is able to work around the classroom with different groups and students are able to work at their own pace. 

Module 6: Differentiated Instruction

I was really able to connect to the beginning of the video on differentiated instruction because my action research involves interviewing students on their interests in order to incorporate them into my lessons. Students have a variety of learning strategies and it is important to approach all of these strategies.  I found the question, “How can you diagnose your students’ needs accurately and practically” to be very relevant to all classroom teachers. One goal that I took away from the power point was to challenge each learner by incorporating what the student may enjoy reading about.  I love the idea of providing students with a menu of options in order for them to be able to choose what they would like to complete in the classroom.

Allowing students to work in a variety of instructional situations is important in order to meet the needs of each learner. I found this power point to be very informative and relative to my current study of action research. 

Assessment of Cognitive, School, and Home Factors

After reading through the power point, I found it interesting to read about the effect of intelligence tests on students. It does not seem fair for students morale to lessen because of a test that does not measure problem solving skills which measures how he/she perform in the real world. If a student begins to lack confidence because of a specific intelligence test, then how are they going to have the desire or motivation to become better learners. Before reading through the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test I have had several students in the past that would benefit great from this type of test because they have a more quiet manner. When administering the CRCT last year in my 3^rd grade class, I noticed that several students had a lot of unanswered questions and at the last minute they guessed on all of the questions. The power point explained how students have timed tests and students end up guessing on questions, which happens a lot of times. I have administered an IRI to my students in the past and I was able to plan lessons based on my students needs. Completing an IRI at the beginning of the year is beneficial because you can plan strategies in order