Chapter 3

While reading Tompkins, I thought it was largely stressed on the importance of reading and writing strategies for teachers to incorporate into lessons. Not only was this stressed with many different thoughts and ideas, but being a motivational teacher when using these strategies was just as important. It is very important to be aware of students reading and writing abilities at the younger grades because that is when they are developing the most. We as teachers need to recognize these abilities, and guide reading and writing strategies best to their learning level. I witness a lot of different reading strategies within my placement currently. Although my teacher uses reading groups all the type for literacy, and never whole group; she still does great motivational discussion with the kids. Using predictions, asking "what if" questions, and relating the story to their own personal experiences really help with comprehension for the students. These questions are motivational because they all want to participate. She often leaves the students to do some type of group "assignment". For example, having them fill out a ven-diagram for the last story they read was very useful. This was a good way to force the students to recognize similarities and differences when they weren't that obvious in the story. This created higher level thinking for these 2nd grade students. They worked off each others thoughts and ideas, and actually lead to even more discussion about the story without the teacher being present. Although, my teachers reading strategies are well identified in the classroom, I see lack of motivation and strategy for writing. Students are unmotivated, and often frustrated when it is time for journal, or writing sentences with their spelling words. I feel that the teacher should set up different opportunities for the students to be more motivated about writing in order to succeed. The more that these students lack interest in writing, the greater chance they have of falling behind. Thats it why I feel is it important to created opportunities that are better geared toward things they will be inspired by to create the motivational aspect. I've come to the recognition over the past year taking TE401/402 that motivation is key. Having the best lesson plan means nothing unless you can find a way to first get your students motivated.