The Adventures Of A Preservice Teacher

       I feel that the main thing literacy instruction should include is the 6 components of reading - those being: vocabulary, oral language, phonics, phonemic awareness, comprehension and fluency. I also feel that literacy instruction should include the chance for students to pick the book that they'll be reading. I believe that it should include a variety of activities and stations for the students to do during class time that give them the chance to work by themselves, work with a partner, work in a small group and work with the teacher. When the students are given the chance to have some control over their learning, they become more excited about it and I believe that this is another important factor in literacy instruction. The students should be excited to learn and read and try new things. I also believe that it is important to incorporate differentiated instruction for your higher and lower level students, as well as your ELL students and students with disabilities.

 

       A big thing that I plan on using when teaching literacy is differentiated instruction. Every student is different and they work at a different pace so it is important to constantly keep that in mind. I plan on using mix, pair, share activities, as well as group discussions and partner work. I will allow my students to do art projects, concept maps, KWL's, reader's theater, small group work and word walls. I want to give the students activities that they can choose from but still have structure.

 

       An endless supply of books is a must when teaching literacy and although I know that it's impossible to have a classroom or school library that has that many books in it, it is important to try your best to give the students options and to find and supply them with what they're most interested in. Other materials you may need when teaching literacy could be art supplies for the students that love to create things. The ability to listen for the students that want to constantly share something that they read.

 

       To create a positive literacy environment in my classroom, I will tell my students ways that they can improve rather than what they are specifically doing wrong. Another way to create a positive literacy environment is to never tell a child that the book they chose to read is stupid or tell them they can't read it. If they're interested in a book, I think that's a really good thing. I want the kids to enjoy what they are reading. Even if they were inspired to read the book that is based off of a movie or a TV show that they watched, it still shows that they are willing to try something new. I love to read in my free time and I'll share that with the students and be enthusiastic because then it will show the kids that it's okay to like to read. I'll work with the kids strengths rather than against them and find new projects or assignments that they can do to show that they understand what they are learning and are comprehending the text that we read in class and on their own.