Hi all! I posted the final assigments all at once....I know everyone is working at their own pace. Please remember that all assignments are due December 5th!!!
Assignment Nine: Final Course Reflection
It's been great reading what you all have to share! Take a look at the last section in Regie's text, Writing Essentials, it's chock full of great resources!!!
Teaching in Action: Lesson Essentials
5 Day Lesson Plans & Appendices
• Secrets of Second Graders
• Heart Poems
• Procedural writing
• Hero writing
• Persuasive writing
• Appendix survey
Be sure to look through this section. If you haven’t already done so, look at Appendix A (page A-2.) Re-examine your beliefs about writing by re-reading the statements about the writing process and marking true or false in your book. Did you change any of your previous answers? Would you consider bringing this page to your team or even to your entire school to jump-start discussions about writing?
Take some time to look through the appendices. There are several useful examples included. One we’d like to point out to you is Appendix L- The Genre Characteristics Excerpt on page A-13. Look to the Writing Essentials companion website at www.heinemann.com/writingessentials for the entire chart as well as directions to assist you playing the DVD.
ASSIGNMENT NINE: Final Course Reflection - Critically examine your current literacy program and develop realistic goals to improve your instruction. Also reflect on the balance between your home and school life. If our students are to become happy, literate people, they need happy, balanced teachers. BRIEFLY, share several of your goals with the class by posting them to the blog for this final assignment.
Thanks for taking our course!!!! Jackie & Mary!
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This course forced me to analyze my weaknesses as a teacher of writing. I have never considered writing as a strength, which naturally carried over into my teaching traits. Reading this book cover to cover challenged me to think about my problem areas that I easily avoid. I can see the difference in my teaching of writing now that I have an ounce of confidence. It will be exciting to see this confidence transfer to my students throughout the year. My goals are to incorporate the Optimal Learning Model in every content area of my resource room, establish the meaning and purpose of each writing piece, ask my students more often what makes writing interesting, publish for real audiences and teach into my students needs. Consciously reducing my paper-load will free up time to tie up loose ends and perhaps I’ll be able to make it to a school social. I am thankful to have learned my attitude dictates my students’ attitude. Therefore, I always present my best with enthusiasm. It’s always nice to be reminded and stay balanced.
ReplyDeleteI signed up for this course on a whim to earn some needed hours, and because I had the textbook already on my bookshelf. I really had no idea what I would gain from it, but gain I did! Reading this book from cover to cover was incredibly beneficial for me. Like the previous poster stated, it also forced me to examine my weaknesses as a teacher of writing. I am not a natural writer and before taking this course I modeled writing for my students as little as I could possibly get away with. I am already finding, in just the short period of time I’ve been working through this book, that I am beginning to share more personal experiences with my class and more of my writing in front of them. This course has caused me to step outside of my comfort zone a bit….and it feels great! I look forward to seeing my students’ enthusiasm for writing increase as I begin to apply more of what I learned in Regie’s book. My main goals are to consistently apply the Optimal Learning Model across all areas of curriculum, help my students find meaning in their writing, and reduce my paper load. I look forward to seeing where what I learned in this course will take me!
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ReplyDeleteAndrea & Sharon– Final Reflections: Thank-you both for participating in our course! I am so glad that Regie’s text has not only given you confidence in your teaching of writing, but will also put the joy back into writing for both you and your students. Best of luck as you continue to “write” with your students and work towards your individual goals! I have submitted both of your grades as “A” into TINT. I looking forward to “meeting” with you both in a future course.
ReplyDeleteI would like to begin my final post with some of words of gratitude. I would first like to thank Regie Routman for her passion and commitment to improving the educational lives of both students and teachers. Her Reading and Writing Essentials books are very well written, inspiring, educational, helpful, research-based, and genuine. Regie has influenced both my professional and personal life for the BETTER! I would also like to thank you, Jackie and Mary, for leading this course. Thanks for your professional feedback and guidance. Thanks also to the other participants in this course. I very much enjoyed reading your responses!
ReplyDeleteLike “Sharon J” and “Andrekari,” this course has forced me to examine many of my teaching behaviors and beliefs in my classroom. I have discovered that I have NOT shared enough of my writing life and absolutely need to do so (I have actually begun to!). I like writing and feel comfortable sharing my writing with others; I now have a better understanding of HOW and WHY I need to share more of my writing life with my students. For the past 3 weeks, I have been much more astute in implementing the Optimal Learning Model and my goal is to continue to so consistently throughout ALL curriculum I teach. Along with that goal is the hope that I can teach and inspire my students to grow in their writing confidence and abilities.
Another goal I have is to become more efficient with my teaching time. I do “okay,” but I know within there is some room for improvement. A little less talking and a little more time for students to practice and implement. My time management also needs some work in my personal life. By that I mean to strike a better balance between my work life and personal life. I work a lot, and I know I am sacrificing time for family, friends, and myself. I know Regie is right when she says that “a happy and balanced teacher” will help make for happy and balanced students in the classroom.
Thank you again for a wonderful course! ☺
Final Reflection -
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this text. I found it very accessible and practice. Again, I really enjoyed the DVD, seeing all these ideas in practice.
Also, this course allowed me to really delve into my own practices as a writing teacher, and forced me to pick apart the strengths and weaknesses that I have. There is no doubt, that I do many things right, but there are also many things that I need to improve upon in order to be the most effective teacher I can be.
I liked the way that Regie breaks things into east rubrics and lists. I find this kind of explanation to be very easy to follow.
I am really looking forward to sharing this book with my gen ed teacher. I am actually interested in starting a book study of this book at my school. I think it would be hugely beneficial to come together as a team to discuss these ideas in order to become a strong unit of teachers that share ideas with each other, that way as students move through grades, they have teachers that are all on the same page.
Overall, I really enjoyed the blog style of this course! It was fascinating to read other peoples responses on the readings.
Thank you for offering this course!
Thanks both Mardy and Amy…it has been a pleasure reading and responding to your assignments throughout the semester!
ReplyDeleteMardy – Best of luck as you continue to share your own “writing life” with your students and continue to implement the OLM throughout your writing (and other ) curriculum areas. I am right there with you continually trying to balance work and home life…lately it’s been a bit more of a struggle…so here’s to us both being able to find that balance!!! I have submitted your grade of “A” to TINT.
Amy – I’m so glad that you found the course to be rewarding and supportive of your professional goals. I’m excited to hear that you are considering using this text for a book study with your colleagues…Regie’s book on reading, Reading Essentials, is also a great professional book if your building is focusing more on reading at this time. Best of luck! I’m going to send TINT a grade of “A”…just email me a brief write up for Assignment Seven (writing conference) via email.
Thanks again to you both!!! Looking forward to hopefully working with you again in a future course!
Jackie