Guided Reading Case Study

Janet Seymour seems like she makes a concerted effort to break the guided reading into different segments so different students with different learning abilities can excel in specific type of modules. Now I will say that with the flow of following the progression from Session 1 to Session 2 and so on, a student may not flourish in the later session because of lack of understanding the storyline in the earlier sessions. Because the activities are so tied in to the theme and gist of the story, one could argue that it might be difficult to follow through with the activities later on.

I also like the aspect of allowing the kids to be somewhat imaginative by asking them to possibly predict the outcome of the story prior to actually finishing the book, and why the author chose to have characters do certain things. This creates a sense of imagination among the students rather than just testing and quizzing on their factual knowledge of the story which I think ends up being very short-sighted.

Interestingly enough in the the introduction The Giver, I believe that it's Carmel French who thinks because of the level of difficulty with the novel that everyone should read along together so there can be a general understanding level amongst the group. I will say that I cannot necessarily agree with that interpretation or assessment. I think you can guide along for a time, but at some point you have to allow for learning by trial and error or the student is going to fall into too much of a comfort zone, especially when it comes to reading.

Plot lines are a very helpful tool in my opinion especially if you are reading a story that may be slightly above the level of the current grade. Any aid that can assist the general understanding of a slightly more sophisticated novel is definitely something that helped me when I was in the 5th or 6th grade.

The greatest part about this guided reading lesson breakdown is The Billy Goats Gruff. That story was one of the first I can remember actually really getting into as a child. It was not presented to me in a classroom setting but rather at home. Now with the advantages the Internet possesses at home, I would think parents to a much larger extent than mine, can get extremely creative in teh ways that they can convey stories to their children, but more importantly, convey the meanings of stories in different fashions.

Should teachers be held to a higher standard

I was wondering what people thought in regards to whether or not a teacher should be held to a higher set of standards. It was sort of a general question thrown out to us in one of my other classes where we had to a write a reaction paper to the question.


In my opinion, teachers should not be held to a higher standard. People in society possess freewill, so in my opinion, teachers shouldn’t be treated any differently. As we know, all members of society are expected to abide by the rules and laws set by judiciary and legislative powers of government. Why should a person, simply because of his or her profession, be expected to live differently than the rest of us? It is unfair and impractical to tell hard working teachers that they can be publicly scrutinized and expected to live differently than everybody else. In addition, my beliefs are not just centered on educators: I truly believe that people should be free to do what they want to, without being under constant public scrutiny. As long as a teacher is not involved in illegal activity, I think they should be able to live their own life.
While I am a firm believer in having freedom to make your own choices, obviously there are many people (teachers included) that make less than stellar decisions in regards to their own personal conduct. I am not condoning behavior that lends itself to being unlawful or on the fringe of criminal behavior. Teachers should always be cognitive of the situations they put themselves in on a daily basis, whether it be in the classroom or in the outside world in general. In a world of instant gratification, bad news is spread faster and faster with the advent of cell phone cameras and the Internet. Celebrities have always been under a constant microscope, but unfortunately, sometimes their slip-ups do not even come close to the negative consequences teachers would face if caught doing something deemed inappropriate in relation to their field of work. Because educators are teaching children, common public perception states that teachers should live like saints without any sin. However, everyone knows everyone else has human elements and they are all inclined to make mistakes at some level throughout their lives, including their professional careers.
The only requirement that I think should be mandatory is passing a drug test. If you have an educator preaching about how it’s destructive to get involved in drugs, and then he or she is going out against their teaching, that’s obviously wasted time in the classroom. More importantly, it’s just poor form as an educator to be doing one thing and practicing another. Teaching can be incredibly consuming and tiring, and a teacher needs to be able to perform day in and day out. This wouldn’t be possible if a teacher is using drugs. I understand that drug testing raises issues that pertain to both the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which requires that citizens be treated as innocent until proven guilty and be accorded due process of law when accused. There is a legal battle going on right now about this topic in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Kanawha County school board members decided to enter a long legal battle over employee drug testing because of several high-profile drug incidents and their own political calculations, according to interviews with board members who support the policy. The board decided last week to go ahead with its plan to randomly drug test teachers and other school employees despite warnings of a nasty, costly series of legal actions that started today. One teachers union, The American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, this morning filed a lawsuit in Kanawha Circuit Court calling on the courts to end the board's plan to begin random employee testing in January. The suit seeks a declaratory judgment and injunction to prevent the implementation of the testing plan. (http://www.mapinc.org/newscfdp/v08/n1067/a12.html)

For obvious reasons, teachers feel that this would be an expensive violation of their rights. The money used to perform the drug tests could be better used in the classrooms. In conclusion, I believe that teacher’s should be allowed to live their lives how they choose. This includes social lives, sexual orientation, opinions, beliefs, and decisions. Conduct inside the classroom should always be top-notch, and all teachers should be mature enough to know how to live their lives so this is possible

What type of teacher's personality do you possess?

Here is a link I came across while researching multiple intelligences for another class. I find that this may be helpful as we try to relate experiences and teach to different children. Obviously, we probably won't be perfect teachers for every single student in our careers, but this mini-quiz may allow you to understand your strengths and weaknesses a little better.

http://712educators.about.com/library/quizzes/blteacher_personality.htm

Interesting Article

This is an interesting read- especially after learning about My Access!
What do you think?

http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i04/04b01001.htm

MY Access! software

In Response to MY Access!

I am impressed with MY Access!, and I think it is proof that technology has transformed (and will continue to transform) how we teach. I believe that Web-based programs can be very effective, when used to correct way.

As I watched the video and demonstration, I thought to myself, “Wow, I wish they had stuff like this when I was growing up!” I can only imagine how much more I would have enjoyed "learning how to write."The program looks organized, interesting, and easy to use. I think that students of all ages and abilities would benefit from this program.

My Access would definitely decrease the amount of student and teacher paperwork. As a teacher, I would enjoy the freedom that this program allows. I think it’s important to continue to create your own assignments, not just stick to the MY Access! assignments. This program can be used for different subjects, types of assignments, and genres.

This program would also really help ESL students, as he/she can work on the English language at their own pace and in their native language (when needed). It would also be a great way to communicate with their parents. Oftentimes parents struggle with the English language, and communication can be difficult. A parent letter sent home in their native language would be tremendous.

I can imagine how the word bank and graphic organizers would help resource students. The “My Editor” feature is also a great way for students to see their "weak spots." MY Access is a nice way to track student progress and skills. The feedback is in a timely manner, which is always a challenge for teachers!

As a teacher, I would love to use a program like this in my classroom. Although it wouldn’t be my only way of teaching, I think it would be a valuable resource. I believe that variety is the key to a successful and engaging classroom.


I found this article very interesting – looks like MY Access “walks the walk!”

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Online+writing+program+walks+the+walk:+MY+Access!+boosts+scores...-a0120254108

Teaneck Public Schools Think About Incentives

http://www.northjersey.com/education/brightideas/Teaneck_tries_rewards_cards.html

I came across this article in the Bergen Record.

I think this type of idea sends kids the wrong message about learning in general. Striving for greatness, be it for grades or outstanding behavior for the ultimate reason being coupons or virtual cash at local businesses is a poor way to dictate the terms of learning. While I believe it's a teacher's duty to energize the classroom and make topics more interesting, putting a bounty out there for good grades basically states that kids should only be doing things for monetary gain rather than intellectual world.

Granted we live in a capitalist society, but this is taking things way too far too fast just like I think it would be too much too soon with the approach of distance learning at the high school level.

Any thoughts?

Ipod Article Reaction (History to go: Why I Teach With Ipods)

In my class on Principles of Curriculum I had to do a presentation on multiple intelligences and how different styles of learning relate to curriculum. Reading this article on the Ipod and teachers and professors incorporating it into their course load could not have been a better example of the message I was trying to convey during my presentation.



While the Ipod probably incorporates the visual/spatial and auditory mulitiple intelligences, I think there may be new research coming out that implements technology usage as another multiple intelligence. In today's world, where kids can multi-task with the best of them, and certainly more so than when I was in school, technology allows another window of learning capacity.



When Howard Gardner first published his multiple intelligence theory in 1983, Sony Walkmans were just coming into being and they weren't nearly as interactive as today's Ipods and other handheld devices. I think as far as people who learn best visually speaking, they are able to think in picture displays including diagrams, illustrated textbooks, overhead transparencies, videos, handouts, and Power Points. Ipods just add to that capacity to llearn while also adding in auditory components. Interactive schemes like online quizzes can be used on an Ipod, you basically have a small hard drive at your fingertips, and it's something that you always see the younger generation with. Other handheld devices like Blackberry and now Iphone and Gphone will come into play, and it's at the teacher's discretion to see what avenue best assimilates their teaching principles into a young sudent's mind.

The Ipod is the perfect solution. And now they can have detailed notes to take with them while they are listening to music on their Ipod. All that has to be done is to open that condensed Word doc. and take it all in at their leisure. I think that may be the biggest advantage. It provides a much more casual atmosphere to learning rather than the traditional regimented studying in the libary attitude (that wasn't wrong, but I think we as teachers have to adapt in a new age).

Social Networking Site for Teachers

This is a social networking site for teachers. There are articles posted here, but more importantly, there are many ideas posted by a variety of different types of teachers.

http://www.classroom20.com/

The crux of what teaching is really all about

http://www.newsweek.com/id/163455

Due to being knew to the world of education, I am always trying to find different perspectives on what it truly means to be a teacher. More importantly, I see so many people in general that just "go through the motions" in their daily lives, in and out of their careers. As a teacher, you just don't have that luxury because I think it's extremely visible for all to see how well you teach. The results are fairly black and white. My wife teaches in public school and she is constantly telling me of stories about teachers who either do the bare minimum or get involved in the first place because they think it's not a whole lot of work. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I think people should strive for efficiency in anything they do in life. Saying that you should spend x amount of hours somewhere as a guideline serves no purpose in my view. If you can get something done in a more efficient fashion than someone else, you shouldn't be penalized for someone's inability to perform. My point is you should strive ultimately tho be the best you can be at anything you do, but just because you are logging hours, doesn't necessarily mean that you are a better teacher than someone else who spends less time.

Far too often, people lump time commitment with competency, and it's just not that simple.

Kids pulled from class over transgender issue

This isn't necessarily a Reading Curriculum post in regards to education but a post in regards to what parents and students have the right to know about their teachers.

A teacher in California who was a woman last spring came back to the school year as a man and was being addressed as "Mister". While this story is quite strange it does address the "right to know" issue between administrators and parents. I was just wondering if anyone had any legitimate thoughts or if anyone thinks that the school district in California should have handled it differently.

http://www.kcra.com/cnn-news/17714619/detail.html

Tips on Reading Comprehension

I know this could have benefitted the multitude of reading I had to do during college. Kids in my opinion are not taught properly on the tactics to fully understand a passage or article. For me, I know my train of thought shifts way too much during reading, and even more so as a younger student.

Obviously some of this stuff is fairly basic, but if followed at an early age, it certainly can be helpful.



http://www.articlesbase.com/k-12-education-articles/the-7-steps-to-optimizing-your-study-skills-590567.html

Chinese Proverb

I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.
Chinese Proverb

Online High Schools

Here is a link from the New York Post the other day. It describes the efforts in the adminstration of NYC public schools to institute a curriculum for online classes. In the future, that curriculum will allow for online degrees.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09292008/news/regionalnews/home_work__city_bids_for_online_high_sch_131249.htm


I for one do not believe that high school student have the time management skills to put this into action. I just wanted to hear if anyone else had any other thoughts or reactions.

Theories of Education in Relation to Curriculum Theories

In one of my other classes I'm taking this semester, Principles of Curriculum and Development, we were asked to write a reaction paper to the first two chapters of our text. The paper itself was to be tailored to what type of curriculum tradition we would believe ( 1-Intellectual Traditionalist Speaker 2-Social Behaviorist Speaker 3-Experientialist Speaker 4- Critical Reconstructionist Speaker) in and the theory of education we most believe in ( 1-Progrssivism 2-Perennialism 3-Essentialism 4-Reconstructionism).

It was very interesting to see how intertwined these two core structures of learning were. The traditions were clearly stated in the text, Basis for Curriculum Planning by Parkay, Anctil, and Hass. The four were described as follows:

Intellectual Traditionalist Speaker- Appearing somewhat formal, self-assured, and willing to deliver the inspirational lecture or to engage in analytic, Socratic dialogue and debate.

Social Behaviorist Speaker- Less formal attire, not quite a lab coat- but in that spirit, oozing with the desire to discover and invent, analytically and scientifically, what works for the needs of todays' world, a little rough around the edges.

Experientialist Speaker- Very casual, trying to "tune in" to the audience, obviously desirous of engaging them in an interpersonal fashion, rather than by lecture or by precept.

Critical Reconstructionist Speaker- Starkly serious, upset with injustice and the complicity of the staus quo about it; suspicious of conspiracies- intentional and unintentional- restless about the lack of time to right wrongs before injustice reigns supreme.

As far as the basis of curriculum tradition I decided was most visibly analagous to my personality, I chose that of the experientialist speaker. I've found throughout my childhood into adulthood that I learn by doing. Teachers and professors could lecture and lecture about a topic but unless I found it tangibly related to something in my own life, I don't think it would truly sink in.

The four theories of education I found to reiterate what was already said in the traditions of curriculum. Here is a web link to the definition of 4 twentieth century educational theories
http://people.morehead-st.edu/fs/w.willis/fourtheories.html (the text follows)

FOUR TWENTIETH CENTURY THEORIES OF EDUCATION
Major themes identified by George F. Kneller in chapter three of Introduction to the Philosophy of Education

PROGRESSIVISM (John Dewey, William H. Kilpatrick, John Childs)
1. Education should be life itself, not a preparation for living.
2. Learning should be directly related to the interests of the child.
3. Learning through problem solving should take precedence over the inculcating of subject matter.
4. The teacher's role is not to direct but to advise.
5. The school should encourage cooperation rather than competition.
6. Only democracy permits - indeed encourages - the free interplay of ideas and personalities that is a necessary condition of true growth.

PERENNIALISM (Robert Hutchins, Mortimer Adler)
1. Despite differing environments, human nature remains the same everywhere; hence, education should be the same for everyone.
2. Since rationality is man's highest attribute, he must use it to direct his instinctual nature in accordance with deliberately chosen ends.
3. It is education's task to import knowledge of eternal truth.
4. Education is not an imitation of life but a preparation for it.
5. The student should be taught certain basic subjects that will acquaint him with the world's permanencies.
6. Students should study the great works of literature, philosophy, history, and science in which men through the ages have revealed their greatest aspirations and achievements.

ESSENTIALISM (William Bagley, Herman Horne)
1. Learning, of its very nature, involves hard work and often unwilling application.
2. The initiative in education should lie with the teacher rather than with the pupil.
3. The heart of the educational process is the assimilation of prescribed subject matter.
4. The school should retain traditional methods of mental discipline.

RECONSTRUCTIONISM (George Counts, Theodore Brameld)
1. Education must commit itself here and now to the creation of a new social order that will fulfill the basic values of our culture and at the same time harmonize with the underlying social and economic forces of the modern world.
2. The new society must be a genuine democracy, whose major institutions and resources are controlled by the people themselves.
3. The child, the school, and education itself are conditioned inexorably by social and cultural forces.
4. The teacher must convince his pupils of the validity and urgency of the reconstructionist solution, but he must do so with scrupulous regard for democratic procedures.
5. The means and ends of education must be completely re-fashioned to meet the demands of the present cultural crisis and to accord with the findings of the behavioral sciences.

I chose to believe in progressivism mainly due to its similarities to what I chose when I wrote my initial paper as an experientialist. Both need students or pupils to experience what they are learning to truly have it sink in and further its meaning.

I was just wondering as far as the people in my class, what beliefs in both of the above scenarios (curriculum tradition and learning theories) do you fall in, and more importantly, why you profess these beliefs?

Literature Circles

I found this video clip about literature circles very interesting. Assuming they are run correctly, literature circles promote classroom environments that are cooperative, responsible, and enjoyable. Students are given the responsibility for working with each other to make decisions in accordance with their own abilities, needs, and interests. Students also learn how to take charge of their own learning, and I think that would deepen their understanding of the reading. However, literature circles might be hard to facilitate as a new teacher. I would have enjoyed literature circles as a developing reader!

9-11 curriculum in schools

I read this in the Bergen Record online during last week's seventh anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. While it is not directly related to reading curriculum per se, it is a curriculum issue that families of 9-11 victims want to be taught in all classes nationwide.

http://www.northjersey.com/education/Sept_11_memorial_to_launch_curriculum_effort_.html

I for one would be willing for the curriculum to be implemented. You just have to address the issue where some kids, especially ones in the tri-state area have been affected greatly (maybe even some lost a parent), have to be allowed to express feelings prior to actually implementing a curriculum like that full-tilt.

For younger kids who may not have been alive in 2001, I don't think the issue would be as great, but I know in Ridgewood public schools last Thursday, they didn't utilize Channel One during homeroom just so kids who were affected wouldn't have to rehash the tragedy during school. Several kids at my wife's school had parents killed in the World Trade Center so it is a sensitive issue when trying to assess what type of curriculum could be deemed as inappropriate for kids when it's not blatanly inappropriate. This is a recent historical event after all.

Thoughs from anyone?

I just thought I would add that I am in the St. Peter's teacher certification program with the intentions of also getting a Masters as well. I failed to mention that during the class.

In Reference to the PAY ATTENTION You Tube Video

While I believe that there were certainly some valid points made in the video, I think one has to be careful to overindulge kids with technological advantages. For instance, I went to college in the late 90's and graduated in 2000. Many of my classes involved either group or individual efforts with various computer applications, some even being addressed during class. I think professors or teachers at the high school level run the risk of losing the student as well, because they get so immersed in stuff that is not necessarily relevant to the topic being discussed or taught. I know there can be safeguards in regards to putting firewalls up on certain material that would be otherwise distracting, but i still feel that at least I tend to scatter about when I'm online, even if it is with a productive thought in mind.

I'm all for technology to be used in implementing different learning strategies; I just think that the learning experience has to be tailored specifically to the focus of the aspect.

Click on this link to view a much younger looking Todd Palmer..... http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/palmer_todd00.html

Todd Palmer Introduction

Hello my name is Todd Palmer and I look foward to blogging while learning more about reading curriculum. I am currently Dean of Students at St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City. Previously, I have been working in the business world as an equity trader for about six years.

My undergraduate degree was from the University of Notre Dame in business administration with a major in accounting. My wife is an eighth grade science teacher in 8th grade at GW Middle School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, the school I attended in my youth.