Week # 2

Assignment #1
Following ELA instruction is the key to be an effective teacher. The goal of every teacher 
should be for every child to become a fluent readers and writer. To be successful in life one must be comfortable in the English language. This is dependent on the education received as a young child. Learning ELA starts in kindergarten and gradually build up each year; ELA instruction is a gradual process.

There are four key features to ELA instruction. With each grade level the depth increases but consist of the same components. The primary step is reading. The goal of reading is the comprehension and application of comprehension. It is effective to use digital text to promote reading. Writing is the next step. Writing is directly connected to reading. Students should be able to connect their writing to what they have read and respond to their readings and research. Students should be encouraged to write about literacy. Blogging is a helpful tool for practicing writing.  

                Communication is an important part of the ELA instruction. Speaking and listening are both part of communication. Students need to develop skills for formal presentation, oral assignments, and group projects. They need to be able to express themselves and listen to and comprehend others. Oral and visual media should be part of the speaking and listening feature. Lastly is language, a crucial part of Language Arts; developing a good vocabulary and correct choice of words. Electric books can enhance the learning of vocabulary. Each stage can be adjusted according to the level of the students. As the students learn and mature they will be taught on more difficult levels. Teaching according to these standards will result in accomplishing and successful students. .This is the way to teach children effectively

Assignment #2 
     Every child is a reader and a writer if you make them one. Every child had the potential to be a proficient reader and writer.  A teacher’s job is to start teaching literacy from a young age. Young children can learn to read and write when you use the right techniques and motivation. A professional teacher can teach students everything; they are never too young to start learning.

                Sheila Owen is a kindergarten teacher in Beaumont, California. She is the epitome of a dedicated and expert teacher. She knows how to teach children the correct way, incorporating all aspects of education into her daily lessons. She has the correct approach towards children; every student is a reader and writer beginning the first day of school. No student is too young to read or write on their own. Sheila knows how to teach the children more difficult concepts of literacy on their level. The lessons are created based on her observations of the children’s strengths and weaknesses. Her goal is for every student to internalize a love for reading.

                Watching and listening to Sheila’s daily classroom routine taught many important aspects of literacy teaching. It is equally important to work with the children together and to instruct them to work individually. The process is to begin working as a group and slowly allowing the students to become independent. The goal is for the teacher to pull back more and more, and the for the children to be more involved.

                The first step is Read aloud; the teacher reads to the children. Despite the fact the teacher is the one reading the children still must be totally involved. While reading the teacher must pause and ask the children questions and discuss the book. Simply reading the book is only half the job; the children must be part of the picture too. To ensure they are comprehending the teacher must stop and give them a chance to predict or summarize the story. Reading to the children is also an opportunity to promote parts of emergent literacy and teach them concepts of print. Connecting the story to their life, makes it more personal and comprehendible.  The read aloud stage is only complete if the students play a role and truly participate in the activity.

                Following the read aloud stage is shared reading; the class reads together. At this stage the teacher encourages more involvement from the students. Now the children are reading with the teacher. This stage also focuses on phonics, is a prominent part of reading. Sheila works with the class as a  group writing sentences together. After they read and write together they are ready to start working on their own; guided reading. Now each child has the chance to read their own book by themselves. Before they read alone, Sheila goes through it with them to make sure they will know and recognize all the English words. The students are taught to look at the picture to help them figure out the harder words. Sheila is there to help and scaffold for them, and it is their chance to show her what they know.

                Finally, they reach the last step, independent reading, they are now ready to read on their own. Now they are completely independent, and the teacher only observes. They have reached the goal; to read without the teacher at their side. This is Sheila’s goal for every child; to be independent readers and writers. Every child reads and writes on their own and the teacher watches and takes note of their strengths and weaknesses. Sheila has a clever and organized approach; she selects two children each day to observes. This allows her to give special individualized attention to each child over a two-week period. She plans her lessons according to what she has observed with her students.

                Together with the reading process writing activities must be incorporated. There must be an interactive and independent writing activities in every classroom. First is interactive writing; teacher and students write together. The teacher teaches how texts work and how to put it down on paper. She teaches them how to slowly pronounce words to hear the individual sounds. Stretching the word helps the child figure out which letters are in the word. After writing together the students take what they learn and attempt to write individually. Independent writing, the child uses words hanging around the room and from what they learned together as a class. This is a chance for the teacher to observe and evaluate the students.

 Every part of the teaching process must be done with extreme patience and encouragement. Sheila worked with her students in a calm and loving manner.; this is a very important aspect to the teaching process. When a child is showered with love he feels valued and motivated to excel. Sheila has taught me how to run a classroom the right way.

Assignment #3

Carolyn Wilhelm is obviously a very professional and experienced teacher. Reading her lesson plan proves to me her tremendous teaching skills. Carolyn created a four-session cumulative lesson. Her lessons were skillfully designed with learning goals in each one. The children learned new skills and knowledge through each activity. She divided the lessons up in a clever way allowing them to fully grasp the whole idea. She incorporated many activities into the lesson, ensuring every child’s participation. It was a very hands-on lesson making it possible for the children to learn and enjoy simultaneously. Carolyn was able to observe the children and notice their comprehension on the lesson. The children were taught numerous practical skills and ideas this lesson.