2. Getting to Know Your Learners
Literacy is the ability to use reading and
writing for a variety of tasks both inside and
outside of the school environment (Tompkins,
2010). In order for teachers to assist learners in
becoming literate, we must learn about our
student’s interests, strengths, and challenges.
Dr. Almasi states that we should not be
concerned where we are in our scope and
sequence, or our textbooks, but where our
children are and what they are interested in
learning (Laureate, 2010).
3. Getting to Know Your Learners
Assessments can serve many purposes within our
classrooms. Teachers implement a number of
types of assessments, each serving differing
purposes. We use the information gathered from
these assessments to make informed data driven
decisions about what is best for our students.
Types used within my classroom
MAP
Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark System
Elementary Reading Attitude Survey
interviews
4. Text Selection
When
our early learners first begin their
journey into reading and writing they
need opportunities to experience a wide
variety of text in order to become
successful readers and writers. It is our job
as teachers to assist them in discovering
these texts.
5. Text Selection
Selecting texts that are not only appropriate, but
also engaging for students is important in
motivating students to become successful readers
and writers. Teachers need to have the tools such
as the literacy matrix suggested by Dr. Douglas
Hartman to assist them in making sound decisions
in text selection.
(Laureate, 2010)
Choosing texts with your student’s reading levels,
interests, and educational objectives in mind is
critical for teachers in preparing students for
success in the classroom and beyond.
6. Interactive Perspective
In
the interactive perspective we are
teaching our students to become
accurate, fluent readers and writers while
exhibiting the ability to comprehend text.
Our desire is for the students to be
strategic and thoughtful about their
learning.
7. Interactive Perspective
Focuses on the 5 Pillars of Reading (for first grade beginning readers)
Phonemic awareness
Phonics
Lots of modeling and listening
Comprehension
Acquiring sight word vocabulary
Fluency
this is a key for first grade, vowel patterns
Vocabulary
Segmenting and blending
Done through read alouds and other alternate forms
Writing
Connect the reading with the writing
(Laureate, 2010)
8. Critical and Responsive
Perspective
Critical Perspective
Judge
Evaluate
Think
critically
(Laureate, 2010)
Responsive
Perspective
Respond
with a
personal and
emotional reaction
Respond in
meaningful ways
9. Critical and Responsive
Perspectives
The critical and responsive perspectives are
valuable to incorporate into our classrooms
because they provide such a unique view into a
student’s thinking. The use of these in our
instruction gives teachers greater insight into our
knowledge of our students. Not only does this
perspective provide students the opportunity to
think more deeply and connect with text, but it
also allows them to learn valuable lessons that can
encourage them to become more caring and
compassionate citizens of our classrooms and
communities.
10. Literate Environments
A
literate environment focuses on
content, pedagogy, and the effective
use of physical space, instructional
materials and technology, and the
impact of the social environment (IRA,
2010)
11. References
Gambrell, L., Palmer, B., Codling, R., & Mazzoni, S. (1996). Assessing motivation to read. The
Reading Teacher, 49(7), 518–533. Retrieved November 16, 2010 from the Education Research
Complete database.
International Reading Association (IRA). (2010). Standards for reading professionals – revised
2010.http://www.reading.org/General/CurrentResearch/Standards/ProfessionalStandards.aspx
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010) Analyzing and selecting text. [DVD]. The
Beginning Reader, Pre K-3. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010) Critical Perspective [DVD]. The Beginning
Reader, Pre K-3. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Getting to know your students. [DVD]. The
beginning reader, PreK-3. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Guided Reading. [DVD].The beginning
reader, PreK–3. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Interactive Perspective-Strategic
Processing. [DVD] The beginning reader, PreK–3. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Interactive Perspective-Word Study. The
beginning reader, PreK–3. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). The Beginning Reader.[DVD]. The
beginning reader, PreK–3. Baltimore, MD: Author
Tompkins, G.E. (2010). Literacy for the 21st century: A balanced approach (5th ed.). Boston:
Allyn & Bacon.
