1. TEACHING THE LANGUAGE ARTS Michelann Parr • Terry Campbell
prepared by
Jackie Eldridge
University of Ontario Institute of Technology

2. Chapter 1 Understanding Ourselves as Literate Beings

3. Questions to Guide Your Learning
Who am I as a literacy learner?
What memories do I have regarding language and literacy?
What do I remember about listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and representing?
What is my literacy story?
Why is it important to construct a literacy story?
How will my literacy story shape me as a teacher?
Why is it important for my students to be able to tell their literacy stories?

4. Literacy Learning What is literacy learning?
Literacy learning involves:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Viewing
Representing

5. The Literacy Learner What does the literacy learner want and need?
How will I motivate the learner?
How will I bring my own literacy journey into my classroom?

6. Listening Listening for information – efferent purpose
Listening for pleasure – aesthetic purpose
Effective listeners:
Look at the speaker
Are interested and attentive
Do not interrupt the speaker
Are aware of nonverbal messages
What do I believe is important about listening? What does listening look, sound and feel like?

7. Speaking Speech is the oldest form of expressive communication.
One role of a teacher is to be an oral language model in the classroom.
What do I believe is important about speaking? What activities will promote speaking?

8. Reading
“The Matthew Effect” – the relationship between the active engagement in reading and the developing reader
Reading for information – efferent purpose
Reading for pleasure – aesthetic purpose
How can I motivate my students to read? How can I teach my students to enjoy and become effective readers?

9. Writing Challenges that writers face:
Fear of failure
Unsure about correct grammar, spelling, etc.
Unsure about proper sentences structure
Unsure how to develop ideas
How do I help my students to overcome these challenges and to write? What do I believe about writing in the classroom? How can I teach my students to enjoy writing?

10. Viewing Viewing is an active process
We view and acquire information from: performances, television, movies, paintings, photographs, symbols, sculptures, etc.
How will my students interpret visual information? What do they need to be aware of when viewing?

11. Representing
Representing – communicating meaning in nonverbal forms, e.g., symbols, diagram, visual art, drama
What does representing do for our students? How will they represent?

12. Constructing Our Stories
We can construct our stories from:
Memories
Experiences of family, friends, school, teachers, literature, self
Our literacy journey takes us from student to teacher candidate to teacher and beyond

13. Reflections What did I learn today? (Retell)
My learning reminds me of…. (Relate)
I wonder what will happen when and/or if… (Reflect)

14. Copyright
Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation of this work beyond that permitted by Access Copyright (the Canadian copyright licensing agency) is unlawful. Requests for further information should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. The purchaser may make back-up copies for his or her own use only and not for distribution or resale. The author and the publisher assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, or damages caused by the use of these files or programs or from the use of the information contained herein.