Hello all! My name is LaToya Parker and I am twenty-seven years old. I am a second generation college graduate, and will be the first person in my family to earn their Masters degree(which will be in Reading). Also, I am playing with the idea of pursuing my doctorate. Currently, I am completing my fourth year of educating Kindergarteners at Harford Heights Elementary School. I am also a single mother to my 10 year old daughter, La'dre. From this course, I expect to continue to learn key ideas in literacy instruction as they pertain to the various content areas.
I found Moje's insight to be right on time. Secondary literacy instruction is in desperate need of reform. In my opinion, many of the problems with secondary literacy instruction are due to the passing off of responsibilities by educators. In my experiences not only as an educator, but as a student, I have found that many content area educators do not feel that it is their responsibilty to "teach reading". I know that there is a lot that is asked of educators(time restraints, curriculum, etc.) but reading instruction should be stretched across all content areas in order for students to succeed
As an elementary teacher, how do you view your role in the teaching of content-literate tools in your curriculum as a kindergarten teacher?
ReplyDeleteI think many content are teachers feel that it is not their responsibility because there are reading/language arts teachers. My next thought would be do we need a reform in secondary literacy instruction or should we go back and look at what is going on in the primary grades?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you way of thinking in terms of educators current way of passing the responsibility of teaching reading in their specific content areas. I feel that if every follow the same steps of incorporating reading our youth with be fully equip with knowledge that will be with them throughout their adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments on the need of the educational community to overhaul literacy instruction in secondary education. When students get to the secondary education level and their short-comings in particular content areas are revealed to that teacher do we blame the previous educator(s), or do we address the issue at hand and correct the problem?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the educator needs to change their approaches to student learning. I think that far too often our teachers have lost their perspective and have become jaded about the student’s and their attitudes towards learning. We need to stop grouping our children into these mass categories of people who do not want to learn and begin to approach them on a more personal and individual bases.
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ReplyDeleteLet us look forward to our continued efforts that will result in the insurance that we, among Dr. Jenkins's class, do plenty of passing off of responsibilities - that is that our students will be passing off the results of their responsible efforts in response to our dedication to providing our students with a first rate education that includes rigor with regard to enhancing our students' encoding and decoding skills.
ReplyDeleteLiteracy in all content areas need to be a central process that educators recognize as important. Teacher should not be responsible for instructing on grammar or the mechanics of reading but their lessons should include how to read for a particular subject. Mathematics has its own vabulary and math should be taught with this in mind. Science have analytical and research type reading. Each course requires different reading strategies and applications to learn.
ReplyDeleteI think that we do our students a major unjust when we “pass the buck”. It is the responsibility of everyone to enforce reading and provide opportunities for students to share their thoughts and reflect on what they have read. Especially in content classrooms, if we do not provide opportunities to for students to read a text and reflect, how can we expect them to perform well on test? It is through reading instruction and reflection that we strengthen our students and encourage them to become better thinkers.
ReplyDeleteI have conducted research regarding cross circular education (such as teaching certain math skills in English class) and found that the research often stated that the students benefited greatly from this style of learning. I would imagine that these students would also understand that literacy was important in every class, just not language arts class.
ReplyDeleteI would like to respond to Brian and Rochelle's questions. For elementary school teachers such as myself, I have the pleasure of educating children in all subject areas. So essentially, I teach literacy across all content areas.
ReplyDeleteI am not placing blame on secondary educators for their students' literacy woes. As I stated in another peer's blog, I do believe that there is a drop as far as literacy is concerned between 1st and 3rd grade. I feel that this is due to the emphasis that is placed on standardized testing. This causes educators to attempt to "cram" a multitude of information into their students heads, making learning less meaningful to them.
Everybody can say that one thing or the other isnt their responsibility. But until someone incorporates reading in everything and every subject most kids wont get it. My second grade son cannot read enough. Sad part about it is he doesnt like the library because he wants to collect the books he reads. So books alone cost us a fortune.
ReplyDeleteI agree reading instruction is essential and should be stretched across curriculum. I believe we all feel that way. The true question I think we all need to address is how. If we don't figure it out do we think anyone else will?
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