How lovely to have two weeks off! The major selling point of this job was just as good as I was expecting it be. I didn't use it productively - still stubbornly hoping to maintain separation between work and home life - but I think I'll be the better for it this term. Got to look after me first, THEN planning/marking etc.
But now that we're back on deck I'm wishing I had planned this week through - just to save some of the hectic stress of coming back in with nothing up my sleeve.
Next week is NAPLAN anyway so this week has been 100% persuasive writing (despite all of our objections to teaching to the test, it somehow becomes imperative to get those meaningful little numbers up...)
I've been frustrated tonight by the failings of the system - without going into too much depth this ranges from behavioural issue management (how to deal with the really troublesome kids) to the lack of funding/resources to support students with extremely low literacy, to how the blazes did these kids make it to high school with this level of literacy??
It's been a huge week, with afternoon professional development on two afternoons, one afternoon of after-school planning, attempting to learn how to manage a markbook, marking and the usual planning... But it's good to be back. I was starting to miss the little buggers.
Showing posts with label literacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label literacy. Show all posts
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
ELPC2: Task of the Week 1
Initial Thoughts
As an English teacher I am probably one of the more enthusiastic about our course content. I can understand teachers of other subjects having some misgivings about being expected to teach reading, with the amount of time pressures we all have and the seemingly endless list of topics we're expected to cover with our students, however I truly believe without the ability to read and write our students will be lost. So I'm looking forward to this course equipping me with more skills to help my students read.
My Own Early Literacy Experiences
I can't remember a lot about learning to read, and what I do remember I realise are received memories from my parents. They've told stories ever since I can remember about my conscientious nature (that was my teachers' pet word in ALL my school reports). When I was 4, my two preschool teachers passed one another a book over my head, and as it went past I read the upside down title out loud, to their surprise. We have various home videos of myself and my little sister reading (or trying to); I can't sit down for breakfast even now without some kind of text in front of me. I read the graffiti on toilet walls; catalogues and other junk mail; menu boards at cafes; road signs and so on. I can't help myself! I don't remember reading ever feeling like a challenge, I think it came fairly naturally to me.
Chapter One of Tovani
I've enjoyed Tovani's first chapter, especially her introduction of the "proficient readers" techniques, and generally I have high expectations of this unit. I really enjoyed her linking the chapter on viruses to the fat man sneezing on her; I think linking concepts and content to real life is so important, not just in reading but in engaging students in any subject.
Initial Thoughts on a Research Subject
My research subject for assessment one is my partner. He doesn't particularly enjoy reading and being a fairly practical, hands-on sort of bloke he is not drawn to sitting down with a book like I am. I'm hoping to learn from him not just about his reading experiences, but on a broader level how I can engage my male students who aren't as academically inclined.
As an English teacher I am probably one of the more enthusiastic about our course content. I can understand teachers of other subjects having some misgivings about being expected to teach reading, with the amount of time pressures we all have and the seemingly endless list of topics we're expected to cover with our students, however I truly believe without the ability to read and write our students will be lost. So I'm looking forward to this course equipping me with more skills to help my students read.
My Own Early Literacy Experiences
I can't remember a lot about learning to read, and what I do remember I realise are received memories from my parents. They've told stories ever since I can remember about my conscientious nature (that was my teachers' pet word in ALL my school reports). When I was 4, my two preschool teachers passed one another a book over my head, and as it went past I read the upside down title out loud, to their surprise. We have various home videos of myself and my little sister reading (or trying to); I can't sit down for breakfast even now without some kind of text in front of me. I read the graffiti on toilet walls; catalogues and other junk mail; menu boards at cafes; road signs and so on. I can't help myself! I don't remember reading ever feeling like a challenge, I think it came fairly naturally to me.
Chapter One of Tovani
I've enjoyed Tovani's first chapter, especially her introduction of the "proficient readers" techniques, and generally I have high expectations of this unit. I really enjoyed her linking the chapter on viruses to the fat man sneezing on her; I think linking concepts and content to real life is so important, not just in reading but in engaging students in any subject.
Initial Thoughts on a Research Subject
My research subject for assessment one is my partner. He doesn't particularly enjoy reading and being a fairly practical, hands-on sort of bloke he is not drawn to sitting down with a book like I am. I'm hoping to learn from him not just about his reading experiences, but on a broader level how I can engage my male students who aren't as academically inclined.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)