Common Sense

I frequently tell my students that in order to teach language, you must know the structure of language. All too often I see schools drowning in a sea of commercial programs that lack the continuity or foundations of optimal language and literacy instruction that students need to gain strong literacy skills. I see teachers who are stressed to the max, trying to get by with so much pressure to improve their students' skills, they often forget to smile, or to enjoy the children, or they forget why they entered into the profession in the first place.  The fact is, it feels good as a teacher to KNOW that the instruction that you are providing to children is effective and based on scientific research.  It feels even better to see your students grow and excel in their literacy skills. Students deserve teachers that employ true scientific reading instruction, and teachers deserve proper preparation to provide that instruction.

Definitions Assignment

It's hard to believe that the fall is upon us and we are mucking through yet another wonderful semester.  I am so VERY happy to have a small group this time around for LLI and I am thrilled that all of you are hard workers.  Enjoy each other this semester!  Here is a formal description of the "Definitions" assignment:

Create a Prezi that defines (in your own words) each term below.  Make sure that you are recasting the formal definition in a way that makes sense to you, but also captures the true meaning of the term. Provide an example of each term, and include a visual image to represent each term.  You might find it helpful to include the formal definition and then your recast below it.  One example is from Emily's project, which she has submitted early:

consonant (n) 
one of a class of speech sounds characterized by constriction or closure at one point or more points in the breath channel (Merriam-Webster)   
Recast:a phoneme spoken using the teeth, lips, and / or tongue, in the English language
Example: letter in the English language excluding a, e, i, o, u
Visual: 

List of terms: phonemes, phonemic awareness, phonology, phonetics, phonics, decoding, encoding, vowel, consonant, morpheme, morphology,fluency, semantics, lexicon, syntax, pragmatics, orthography, grapheme, fluency

Good luck!

Tech Projects

Students in The Exceptional Child, I am excited to review your tech projects!  Here we gooooo....

Summer is upon us.  I sincerely hope that all of you Education students out there are relaxing and catching up with your loved ones. Be sure to go thrift store shopping for "teacher clothes."   

Welcome to Language and Literacy I!

Get ready for an amazing semester!

Hello Everyone!

Now that midterms are behind us we will push forward full steam ahead.  The semester will wrap up before you know it, so make sure that you are on top of your readings and your work.  If you have outstanding work I need it this week.  I also need to have at least up to LP #4 by Friday and revised LP’s need to be turned in either on Tuesday (10/23) or Friday (10/26) of next week.  I do not want you to wait until the end of the semester to revise them because the feedback will prove useful for the LP’s that you are writing now.  Next Friday (10/26) your website analysis project is due.  I have sent the assignment description via email.  Keep up with the readings on the syllabus- Wineburg & Martin article for this Friday (10/19), Brewster & Fager article for Tuesday (10/23), and Heikkinen article for next Friday (10/26).  Highlight, take notes, and be prepared to discuss in class.  I will likely collect your highlighted / note taken articles as homework.  Be sure that you are updating your blog.  Do not be surprised if I share your blogs with some of local teachers.   

The week after next we will fiddle around with podcasts- some of you might want to create a podcast to incorporate into your Smart Board lesson.  Each SB group should be establishing a timeline to teach in the schools.  Be sure that you have given me a flawless LP from the group so that I can review it before it is executed.  Reminder: tonight there is a Smart Board training from 5:30-7:30 in Ackley 102.  Try to get at least one person from your group to attend.    

Blog Post Ideas-

1. Do some research and put forth each presidential candidate’s proposal for education.  How will each agenda affect you as a college student and / or the children that you will teach in the classroom in a few years?
2. Respond to the assigned text for this past week- Chapters 4 & 6 in the Parker text.
3. Respond to the articles that you are reading for this week and next.
4. If you have been teaching or assisting in a local school write about your experiences.  Maintain confidentiality ALWAYS.
5. If you attended the conference on Killington on Memory recently write about what you learned and how the content of the presentation pertains to education specifically.
6. Below is an excerpt from a book manuscript that I am currently working on.  Read the text and then respond to the question below.  

The Calling

Teaching is an organic process for some people that is intertwined with who they are and where they have been; the drive to teach is a calling rather than a career choice.  Some people, I believe, are born with an innate gift to teach others.  For me, the seed of becoming a teacher was implanted in me even before I was born.  It was never a choice; it was my destiny, and it seems that the many peaks and valleys of my life have formed who I am as an educator, as a learner, and as a person of this planet.  It was with the tough experiences that I learned patience, empathy, and the importance of being an advocate for those who are not able to advocate for themselves.  It was with the highlights that I gained a renewed sense of enthusiasm for what could be possible.  I take each day in appreciation and I understand that the ups and downs are all positive contributors to who I am and who I am becoming.  Positive thinking is a conscious choice in how I have decided to live my life.  Life is too short to dwell in the depths of despair over events that have happened in the past.  There is a time for mourning, but there is more often a time for celebration.  Everything that happens happens for a reason even if at first we do not understand these reasons.

Describe the “calling” that you feel to become a teacher.  What is it that has drawn you to education?  Be candid. 

This Coming Week

Social Studies Methods:

I recently was given information on an alternative school located in Albany, New York.  For Tuesday, September 18th I would like for you to visit the school's website.  Read through the description of the school and the history of how the school was started.  It is a very interesting place and I am thinking of bringing you folks for a visit.  The website address is:  http://www.albanyfreeschool.org/about.  You folks know that I am a strong supporter of explicit instruction for literacy (at least), so it is important for me to balance my own biases toward alternative schools and consider what each offers in order to see what kinds of benefits such institutions offer for children.  In other words, I don't want to cram my philosophy of education onto you and that is why I think I should expose you to this school.  ;) Also for Tuesday, read Parker chapter 3.  Your first unit lesson plan is due for Tuesday as well.  If you have questions, concerns, or need help on the lesson plan you can come to see me during my office hours this Thursday from 11:00-2:15 or by appointment.  It probably is best for you to try to connect with Casey McGill (the Ed tutor in the LC) before coming to me, but regardless, you know that my door is always open.  Do not try to get help from Casey outside of her LC hours. As a side note, your lesson plan should be 100% free of spelling and grammatical errors!!!! 

For next Friday, September 21 (not this Friday): In an effort to ensure accountability for the readings I will be collecting your Parker books to note that you've highlighted, taken notes, etc.  As an alternative option you can turn in an outline of each chapter.  If you haven't read the text (which I sincerely hope that you have), please get on it.  There is way too much information for us to cover in class that you need to have thought through.  You will also have reading materials provided by Praxis Group B (Group B- be prepared to hand out the reading on Tuesday).  Now breathe!  You will get through this semester and this course! 

P.S.  We are booked for the "Memory" conference on Killington for Thursday, September 27th.  If you are attending and will be missing classes that day please notify your proff's NOW.  Tell them that they can send me an email if they have questions. Also, $20 buckeroos when you can.  If it is a hardship please let me know.