"Classroom Management" is a term pre-service and active teachers alike are all too familiar with. As an elementary education major, I (and my peers) must complete the EDEL 300 course, which centers entirely around classroom management and planning. As we interact with the course material and create our own classroom management plans, it becomes increasingly apparent that classroom management is the key to successfully implementing any type of curriculum. So, to my delight, reading this chapter just reinforced that idea within the context of literacy. This is reiterated right off the bat, but is important to remember while absorbing the rest of the information in the chapter. I found this to be one of the most important pieces of information noted, as it is truly an element for success of any literacy plan being enacted.
A very important concept mentioned in this chapter, is the idea of Literacy Centers. More buzzwords I know I've heard many times, but this is perhaps the first time I've read in-depth descriptions of what it really takes to create an effective literacy center. An element commonly forgotten is the writing center. How have you witnessed the writing center component in action? Has it been as crucial as the texts suggests? As we have discussed in class, the idea of including writing in daily instruction is sometimes pushed to the back burner, but is a cornerstone to literacy. What creative ways do you plan on involving writing in every day instruction?
The text stresses the importance of different discipline based centers in your classroom. This is critical for involving students in active and engaging learning processes, as well as instructing in subjects that may receive less than superstar treatment when it comes to time spent on explicit instruction. Centers not only involve any subject you can tie-in, but also can have a literacy element to each of them. Have you seen this implemented at AppleTree or another classroom? Personally, I witnessed this in a 3rd grade class I observed. Students participated in a science lab, but had to keep a fully detailed science journal, documenting their activities and processes. At the same time, other students were completing computer activities, while others still participated in a music activity. All stations can and should include some type of physical record of their work completed at that station, often allowing for the literacy component to be added in. Centers are an incredible way to engage the entire class in critical activities, while allowing for movement and fun.
The chapter next provides many instructional tools, strategies, and tips for teaching in a differentiated manner with your students. I personally believe that literacy is one of the most challenging subjects to teach, simply because students in any given class or grade level, will be at so many different varying levels during their time in your classroom. Obviously as an effective literacy teacher, it is crucial to be aware of each student's point in development, as well as goals for where they will be at the end of the year. However, getting the entire class to meet those goals is an incredibly daunting task, seeing as their levels are all across the board. The text suggests small group instruction is crucial for maintaining student attention and affectively teaching. In addition, this is a method for easily differentiating groups and allowing students to be grouped more specifically into like-levels. This can be a difficult task in a classroom of 25 students. Have you seen teachers use this method? How has it been successful? Tier programs and inter-classroom exchanges can be a way for students to be grouped homogeneously and have successful smaller group instruction.
Finally, the text reminds us that, much like classroom management, setting up daily schedules is critical for successful literacy instruction. Whole-group, small-group, and individual instruction should be rotated as much throughout the day for successful literacy instruction. Like we've stated many times in this class, literacy can implicitly and explicitly be taught nearly any time throughout the day, and it is important to consciously plan for that, to guarantee success. Having a daily schedule not only strengthens students in a management regard, but can be a key factor in literacy growth and success.
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