As I was reading these 2 chapters, I thought back to when I was a student. Jake did much better with the Writer's Workshop because he had more choice as to what he could write about. As a student, I hated these assignments...Free Choice. I was a "teacher pleaser" and wanted to make sure and do things "just right." I wanted to be told exactly what to write about so that I could be sure and do it exactly as the teacher wanted. Even now, I want to know exactly what I need to do for class. As a teacher, I struggled with giving my students Free Choice when writing in Writing Journals because of the way I felt as a student being given this assignment. I got an idea from a Staff Development several years ago that I love and it makes me feel much better when telling my students they have free choice concerning the topic of their writing entry. On the very first day we start writing in our journals, we make a "Heart Topics" list on the front page. I draw a big heart on the page and then fill it with a list of all of the things that are important to me and that I love: family, school, church, reading, field trips, family vacations, etc. I explain to my students that when they're writing and they can't think of anything to write about to look back at their Heart Topics list to find something. This seems to help the ones that need a little more instruction and yet allows some of the other ones the freedom to write about a topic of their choosing.
The other thing that "stuck out" in this reading for me was a quote that Jake's mom made on page 133. Hicks talks about his mom being dismayed that "he couldn't read at his own pace" at the beginning of the 3rd grade. She wondered why it mattered that Jake "was reading differently from some of his classmates." This makes me really sad, but at the same time I agree with what she says. I teach 1st grade and I believe in teaching reading on a child's instructional level. I had so many different levels in my classroom this past year- from non-readers, Emergent to 7th grade readers. I had to consolidate because I physically couldn't teach so many different levels. I ended up having 5 flexible reading groups. I assessed, formally and informally, frequently so that children could move within the groups as needed. I wonder, just as Jake's mom, why students can't read at their own pace. I do believe that students need to be exposed to grade level material in any way needed, but in order to make growth, I feel students need to be taught on their instructional level.
Marsha Warren
Comments (3)
Marsha,
Have you heard of guided reading groups? In my school we do guided reading groups and I love it! During guided reading groups we teach our students on their instructional level whether they are not reading or 7th grade reading level. Each student is put into a group and challenged. We still do Teacher Directed Reading where the students are reading an on grade level text, but Guided Reading, I find, helps the students more. They work on skills that they directly need help on. I find that students make so much growth during the year and I think they wouldn't make as much if they just did Teacher Directed Reading.
Posted by Natalie Enns | June 28, 2010 9:49 PM
Posted on June 28, 2010 21:49
I chuckled a little (not laughing at you) when I read the part about being a teacher pleaser. I have had quite a few students over the years (including my oldest daughter) who are the same way. I know they could do better, but seem so held back by the desire to get it just right for the teacher. I tried really hard this year to counteract that with my students, but it is very difficult. One of the ways that I try to improve the situation is to show many different ways of writing including letting my students pick star pieces to show. This way my students know that it's not just what I want that matters.
Posted by Christy Laws | June 28, 2010 11:52 PM
Posted on June 28, 2010 23:52
Marsha,
I too was relieved when Jake was was able to take place in the Workshop in 2nd grade. I wonder if this improved his behavior at home any considering he was a little more at ease at school? I definitely believe in giving students choices. How else would they learn when it comes to making real life decisions?
I unlike you (no offense), love giving free-writes. Mostly because that is when I get the most interesting things to read about. Not to mention most of my students love it too. If I have to have a "teacher pleaser" then I will help them brainstorm a topic. But, keep in mind I teach middle school. Because I teach special needs children who have learning disabilities mostly in relation to academics, I too have many ranges of reading levels. I do guided reading groups and am constantly doing informal and formal assessments to see if they need to be moved up or down a level. Along with the guided reading I do DRTA (directed-reading-thinking-activity) and a DLTA (listening). If they are still beginning readers I do what is called a 3 day cycle. This way they are reading about 4 books a day during guided reading on their instructional reading level.
Posted by Candace Barnes | June 29, 2010 12:32 AM
Posted on June 29, 2010 00:32