As I read the last two chapters I couldn’t help but think of the boys I have taught over the years. Many of them were just like Jake in that they did better when there was movement in the classroom. I have taught Kindergarten for seven years and movement is a way of life in my classroom. Next year I am moving to First Grade and before reading these two chapters I was nervous, just like any other teacher switching grade levels, but now I am scared!!! I don’t want my boys to become disconnected with school when they have other wise been involved but yet I don’t see how I can set up my First Grade classroom and teach the things that I am expected to teach in the same manner in which I taught my Kindergarten classroom, nor am I sure I want too. I was looking forward to First Grade because although their will be movement in my classroom through workshops I was very much looking forward to having to deal with the constant “organized chaos” that was Kindergarten. Now I am faced with the challenge of keeping my “Jakes” as interested in reading and in learning in a much more restrained setting as they were in a room of free choice. I appreciated that Hicks pointed out that Jake did much better in Second Grade because he was allowed to do writer’s and reader’s workshop and was able to have say in some of his choices. I had planned on doing reader’s workshops but I wasn’t sure about writer’s workshops. After reading these chapters I have decided that having my students participate in them will help all students no matter what class they are from stay engaged and connected. The problem that I now face is what Jake’s teacher’s faced. How do you make every single subject and work area have a personal connection to every single student. I don’t think a person can do this and still teach what their school or district mandates that they teach. I agree with Hicks in that until there are universal changes made in education we aren’t going to be able to reach Jake and others like him all the time.
The one thought I keep going back to after all of the articles and this chapter as well is that no matter what our gender, race, or social class, we all at times have moments of discourse. It is learning to function appropriately in those moments that defines who we are as learners. Jake was obviously most comfortable “learning” about the ideas and skills that were important to his family. Topics such as NASCAR and history were such important topics to Jake because that is what his family valued. I think no matter who are students are we need to find out what is important to them and try to include that in our everyday teaching. Yet at the same time we need to teach students to try and find an interest or an important point in a topic so that they can make it their own.
Katie Templeton
Comments (5)
I think you'll be great in first grade because you are aware of the challenges and differences and ready to face them. I teach middle school and couldn't even fathom teaching the little ones - scares me to death. But I have the same issues as you do. How do we reach each individual student with one engaging lesson? I think it is important to allow freedom of choice in tasks and keep children busy. We can also encourage them to share their family discourse with us in the classroom through their reading and writing activities.
Posted by jennifer wagoner | June 27, 2010 7:41 PM
Posted on June 27, 2010 19:41
It sounds like there are some really positive things coming out of our reading. The best part has been learning from others through our reading and these "conversations". I have done both kinds of workshops in my classrooms and I will tell you the kids love it. They start thinking they are calling the shots, so it helps them take ownership of their own learning. The hardest thing is that you will be exhausted. But, you are probably used to that if you have been teaching kindergarten! If you figure out how to make that personal connection with all of your students please let me know how you did it. I will be responsible for 120 students next year. I will get to see each of them 65 minutes a day. I am sort of worried too! Good luck to you. I hope it is your best year ever.
Posted by Carol Sherrill | June 28, 2010 1:59 PM
Posted on June 28, 2010 13:59
Katie-
In regards to your comment about keeping kids interested, I believe in the power of choice!
I, too, roll around the ideas of differentiating instruction for each and every child that I have in my classroom year after year, but it is a very exhausting and daunting task! I have spent some time reading about Guthrie and all of his research says that students perform the best when given choices. Again, students feel that they have control over the situation, and are able to put in their ideas, which create a much more concrete connection to the text.
I wish you the best as you embark on a new grade level next year!
Renee Hennings June 28, 2010
Posted by Renee Hennings | June 28, 2010 9:09 PM
Posted on June 28, 2010 21:09
Katie,
I too am a first grade teacher and I love it! I think that you have to be very flexible when you teach. I find that you need to give your students topics to write about, but then you need to allow them the choice to write about what they want to. It is very hard to make sure that every child is engaged in everything but you need to switch it up. If you do your lesson one way one day make sure you do it a different way. This year my students really like to work with partners turing Reading. So I would give them assignments and let them work together. I would be amazed by some of the things that I heard coming from these groups!
Posted by Natalie Enns | June 28, 2010 9:15 PM
Posted on June 28, 2010 21:15
Katie,
I have taught 1st grade for the past 4 years and absolutely love it. The students still love to be active and have choice in what they do, they are just a touch more responsible than they were in kindergarten. I try to incorporate a lot of group work and partner work in my classroom and my students love it. Don’t look at the 1st grade curriculum and assume the students will be bored with it. Look at it as a challenge and include creative ways to make something hard fun for students. Reader’s Theatre, Literature Circles, Writers Workshop, and Reading Workshops are all great tools to use. Allow your students to share and talk about what they want to learn about. You will be amazed at how much they will learn in 1st grade. It’s a very rewarding grade to teach. I know moving from kindergarten to 1st grade seems overwhelming but from your post it sounds like you are a very involved, caring, flexible, and creative teacher. Therefore, I know you will do a great job in 1st grade.
Posted by Emily Rhoney | June 29, 2010 5:37 PM
Posted on June 29, 2010 17:37