Last class - Aug. 2

As a last posting, please share the titles of books, authors, websites or other information from your Literacy Fair ideas.  I will leave this blog intact indefinitely so you can continue to use it as a resource. 
Thought I'd leave you with a smile -- the image is a photo of an actual billboard advertisement!
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Sue

After Class Twelve

Hi everybody,

Today we had our last group do their presentation.  Please give this group some feedback so they will have something to comment on in their write up.

Hard to believe this semester is coming to a close.  It has been a deep pleasure working with you and I'm glad I've gotten to know you.  I feel the future of teaching is secure with wonderful new teachers like you going out into the field.  All the best of luck to you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer;  for sure you have worked hard and deserve a break.

All the best,
Sue

After Class Eleven

Many thanks to our four groups of presenters.  We are being treated to a variety of lessons and learning about a lot of strategies.  Like last week, please scroll down to find the individual prompts for the four groups and paste in your feedback. 
This week we also read some journal articles related to ELA (Supporting novice teachers in arts education, Parents and homework, Authentic writing with Grade 1's, Rights of readers,  Laptops and getting over the Grade 4 slump, and No perfect method for teaching reading).  Please feel free to add more ideas to the discussions on this prompt.
Reminder:  the blog/reading logs will be due next week before class.  Please include the feedback from this week and then e-mail me your blogs/logs in one Word document.  You should have a total of eleven entries after the first class's introductiory post.

Group Three

Brandi, Sharon, Kate and Rachel

Group Four

Jacyln, Tina, Amy, Veronica, and Mark

Group Five

Courtney, Megan, Jasmine and Sarah

Group Six

Matt, Tristan, Adam, Hailey and Kristina

After Class Ten

Many thanks to our presenters for starting us off with very strong lesson presentations! 
For this week's blog posting, please scroll down below this prompt and find two more prompts for the presentations we saw today.  Please give feedback to Group One on their prompt, and then scroll down again, and give feedback to Group Two on their prompt.  As usual, click on "comments" on each prompt and copy and paste your feedback into the box.
Presenters have until next Monday, July 19, to submit their write up of the Lesson Presentation.  E-mail me a summary of your part of the presentation, a reflection on how you think it went, your rationale for doing it in this manner, how it could be improved, its value in terms of ELA and address any class feedback you choose (minimum:  2 double-spaced pages). 

Group One - July 12

Group members:  Mark, Beth, Lin and Jill

who used Judith Viorst's
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day.

Please post feedback for this group on this prompt, under "comments" below.

Group 2 on July 12

Group members:  Liat, Mhari, Alex and Kathryn
who used Robert Munsch's book,
Millicent and the Wind
as part of their lesson.

Please post feedback for this group on this prompt under "comments".

After Class Nine

This week we looked at some case studies of children in the classroom and tried to determine why they might be struggling.  Our lecture was about "putting it all together", some guidelines for planning in ELA, in preparation for next week's unit and year-long plans.  We answered some questions on the diversity quiz.  [Much of the information was taken from:  Gunning, Thomas G. (2000) Creating Literacy Instruction for All Children.  Boston:  Allyn & Bacon.]
Next week our Group Lesson Presentations begin. 
**Reminder:  the Research papers will be due next Tuesday, July 12.  Please e-mail them to me unless you prefer to have a hard copy.
Have a great weekend!

After Class Eight

This week we covered Chapter 10 Integrating Language Arts with the Fine Arts.  We looked at activities for each of the arts and then how to combine them.  We also performed a fun rendition of "The Legend of Lightning Larry" as readers theater.  (See link:  http://www.aaronshep.com/rt/RTE01.html )  Lastly, we had time in groups to work on our lesson presentations.
For next class, please read Chapter 11 in our textbook.  At the end of the next class, there will be some time again to work on the presentations.
Enjoy the long weekend -- Happy Canada Day!!

After Class Seven

Today we looked at the less well known areas of language arts:  listening, speaking, viewing and visually representing (Chapters 8 and 9).  We had some excellent discussion questions led by groups.  Lastly, we formed groups for our lesson presentations, which will start July 12 and run over three classes. 
Next week we will have a minimum of one hour to get back into groups and work on the lessons.  I will also bring a sign up sheet for the presentation dates.
Enjoy the sun!

After Class Six

This week we explored aspects of teaching with expository texts and in particular talked about digital literacies.  We also looked at the controversial issue of segregating genders to teach certain courses, and if a same sex teacher is more effective with boys/girls.
Lastly, we used children's magazines to create more detailed lesson plans, such as how to help struggling readers and writers, ESL and gifted students, etc.
Please bring your textbook to class on June 21.  We will also have time to form groups and work on the lesson plan presentations.
Enjoy the great weather!

After Class Five

In our reading for today, Chapter Five looks at the connection between reading and writing.  We also discussed ways to teach different kinds of writing and the value of getting students to do peer feedback.  Thanks for bringing in your favourite children's books, and as part of your posting for today, please give the title and the author of your book.  Lastly, we did two writer's workshop activities; in the first, we wrote about a time we felt successful and then examined the writing process we used.  In the second, we tried a creative writing exercise where one person wrote the beginning of a story, the second the middle, and the third person wrote the ending.  Thanks for being willing to try this challenging task, especially in such a short time frame.  As teachers, by stepping out of our comfort zone we can grow and understand more about writing and different kinds of learners.
Have a great week.  Fingers crossed for the Canucks!

After Class Four

In this class we discussed the debates around invented spelling, and the whole language/phonics/phonemic awareness approach to teaching reading.  We also watched a video, What Children Need in Order to Read, narrated by Marilyn Jager Adams.  Our lecture introduced the stages of reading after phonemic awareness:  decoding/word identification, fluency and comprehension.  We then got into groups to brainstorm some activities connected to teaching the various stages, although we found many activities can be multilevel.  Then as a class we compiled a master list.  Hopefully by linking activities with strategies everyone now has a better idea of the variety of choices available when teaching reading, especially understanding which ones may work well with visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc. kinds of learners. 
For our next class, please bring in (if possible) your favourite children's book (or YA/teen book).  We will share authors and titles, and discuss why the book was so important to us and how we might use it in a classroom. 
Have a great week.  Go Canucks!

After Class Three

This week we learned about emergent literacy, and did reading responses to sections of Chapter 3 which were shared with the class.  We also had a look at some children's magazines, like Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, Westcoast Express and Kid's World.  We got into groups to create basic lesson plans and heard some great ideas.  Well done, everyone!
For next class, please bring the Raczinski & Padak handout and your textbook -- we will be making a list of strategies for teaching reading.

After Class Two

Thanks to everyone for your very serious evaluation of the variety of children's literature while having a good time!  I strongly recommend spending some time in a library and exploring the world of children's lit out there.
Today we discussed Chap. 1-2 "Teaching and Learning Language Arts" and emphasized the role of emotions in engaging student interest.  After looking at the books, we also presented some of our favourites and heard some excellent "on the spot" ideas for using them in lessons.  Well done.
For the blog this week, I'd like you to choose two ideas to write about, one paragraph each, or choose one idea to elaborate on.  You can analyze the readings, extend the discussions, comment on the activity, bring in your personal experiences or relate any ideas to the topics covered in class.  Feel free to comment on other people's postings as well.
For next week, please read Chap. 3 in our text and the handouts from the Raczinski & Padek text, Chap. 4, 5,& 6.  Also, please bring them to class -- we will be using them over the next two weeks as we look at teaching strategies.
Hope you all enjoy the long weekend and the weather holds!

After Class One

Hello!

It was great to meet you today and I think we got off to a great start.  Today we introduced each other and had a look at the course syllabus.  This week I'd like you to try out the blog:  post a brief introduction of yourself and what your interests are in teaching ELA.

See you next week!

Welcome to Educ 472!!

Hi everybody,
I'm looking forward to spending the summer semester discussing many ideas in elementary language arts with you.  In class we will learn how to post on this blog and take a week to practice before we officially start blogging.
Hope you have a good break between semesters.
See you Tuesday, May 10.
Sue