Becoming an Effective Teacher

1.Understand How Children Learn Teacher Centered Teacher talks and talks and talks… Teacher provides information and supervises practice Learning is a result of stimulus- response Uses incentives/rewards for motivation Basal lessons Minilessons Repeated readings Student Centered: Constructivism Students actively construct knowledge Background knowledge is recognized as important Learners viewed as innately curious Collaboration not competition Engages students to ensure success Literature focus units K-W-L Charts Reading Logs Thematic Units Word Sorts

Sociolinguistics… Language and Social Interaction is emphasized Reading/Writing are social and cultural Feels students learn best through authentic activities Teacher scaffolds learning Advocates culturally responsive teaching Challenges students to confront injustices/inequities in society Literature Circles Shared Reading Buddy Reading Reading and Writing Workshop Author’s Chair

Cognitive/Information Processing Compares the mind to the computer Recommends integrating reading/writing Views reading/writing as meaningful processes Explains that reader’s interpretations are individualized Describes students as strategic readers and writers Guided reading Graphic organizers Grand Conversations Interactive writing Reciprocal questioning

2.Support Use of Cueing Systems Cueing Systems: 1.Phonological 2.Syntactic (structural) 3.Semantic (meaning) 4.Pragmatic (cultural/social) Children and Adults use all four systems simultaneously as they read, write, listen, and talk. ****see Tompkins p. 13 Figure 1.3 (summary of 4 systems)

3.Create a Community of Learners Classrooms are social settings Together, the students and their teacher create the classroom community which, in turn, affects the type of learning that takes place!!! What’s important? Kids need to feel safe…classroom community respects ALL. Members become a “family” who support and respect each other. Students value culturally/ linguistically diverse classmates and understand that everyone makes important contributions. Students assume responsibility for their own behavior/learning. Teacher is guide,instructor,monitor, coach, mentor, and grader.

How to Create a Classroom Community … D:\Reading Rockets Classroom Management.webarc hive D:\Reading Rockets Classroom Management.webarc hive Teachers are more successful when they take the first two weeks of the school year to establish the classroom environment. Teachers are classroom managers This process of socialization is CRUCIAL to the success of the literacy program! The community evolves and the teacher and student leaders model desired routines and behaviors The environment must be predictable!

4.Adopt a Balanced Approach to Instruction A balanced approach combines: Explicit instruction Guided practice Collaborative learning Independent reading/writing Components of the Balanced Literacy Approach: **Figure 1.5 p.20 Tompkins

5.Scaffold Students Reading/Writing High Modeled : Read-Alouds…………….Writing and thinking aloud strategies Shared : Buddy Reading…………..Create text together, student writes Interactive : Choral Reading/Reader’s Theater……….Share the pen Guided : Plan/teach to small groups/observe strategy use…..Supervised writing Independent: Self-selected text/conferencing…….Writing workshop Low

6.Organize for Literacy Instruction Teachers create a program that fits student’s needs: Basal Reading: commercially prepared Literature Focus: whole class uses one book Literature Circles: 5 or 6 books used with groups Reading/Writing Workshop: self-selection per student Strenths and Limitations for Each: p Tompkins

7.Link Instruction and Assessment Identify Assess Adjust Monitor Analyze Teachers use assessment to INFORM their instruction! Teachers need to consider how to improve their teaching so students can be successful!!!!!

8.BECOME PARTNERS WITH PARENTS Parents play a crucial role in helping children become successful readers and writers. Home-Literacy activities profoundly influence academic success. (Bus, et. al., 1995) Reach out to the families and respect their literacy activities. **Ideas pp Tompkins

You CAN be an Effective Teacher!! Understand how students learn Support use of the cueing systems Create a community of learners Adopt a balanced approach to learning Scaffold reading and writing Organize for Literacy Instruction Link instruction and assessment Become partners with parents