Reflection about the semester

I really enjoyed this semester.  I think we had a really great class and I enjoyed our discussions.  We read alot of interesting books and had alot of great discussions.  I liked when Mrs. Pytash read excerpts of books.  I wrote down every title of every book that we talked about that I haven't read yet.  I have a very long list of books that I want to read now.  I liked the surveys we took after every book that we read.  I also liked writing the book reviews.  I think I will have my students write book reviews, it will give them a chance not only to say if they liked the book or not, but why.  I really liked the choice project too.  Sometimes students need a choice of what they can do.  Students are more likely to do something and do it well if they choose to do it.

Chapter 14

I really liked the list of things reluctant reader look for in books, such as, thin books and short chapters, white space, some illustrations, especially of characters, well defined characters, plots with a lot of action that begins right away, mysteries, funny books, characters their age or only slightly older, characters who face tough choices, realistic language and an easily defined conflict.  I never thought about those things before.  When I look for a book, I read the title and the back of the book.  I also look to see what other books that author has written.  When I choose books for my students I'm going to look more for the things they are looking for.  I want students to like to read and to want to read. 

Chapter 13

I agree that students should learn each others names just as much as teachers should learn the students names.  I find the classes I have where I know the names of most of the people in it, I do better.  It is easier to get through a hard class if you know the people in there with you.

I also will not tolerate Put-Downs in my classroom.  I don't like when kids put each other down.  I would rather have the students in my class encourage each other and work together.

In the Step Inside a Classroom section of this chapter I like the idea of the bell.  I think kids really need something to bring to their attention how mean they are to each other.  If kids aren't as mean to each other they won't be so afraid to speak up in class.

Chapter 10

I like the Suggestion #2 for Improving Fluency; Give Students Varied Opportunities for Hearing Texts.  It says to model good reading to studentd.  They need to hear good expression, good phrasing, and good pacing.  Some students might not have anyone at home that reads or have read to them.  If the teacher reads to the students they will have at least one person to listen too.  I like the Echo reading too. I might use that with my son, he is in first grade and he needs help with his reading.

I also agree with Suggestion #5; Prompt, Don't Correct.  Most people, me included, just correct.  I have a hard time with that when I'm helping my son with his homework.  I need to work on not just giving him the word he is having problems with.