This week I've had a chance to dig into one of Frank Serafini's books (Around the Reading Workshop in 180 Days) and I have discovered he has given me some thoughts to ponder on my own and share/discuss with teachers. Therefore, I've decided to share them with you to do with as you wish. They may be just the spark to ignite a great discussion.
Until teachers' theories and understandings of reading and reading processes expand, any changes made in their teaching practices will be mostly cosmetic.
The quality of student learning is closely linked to the quality of classroom talk.
The types of questions teachers ask have an effect on the types of questions students ask.
Shelley Harwayne (principal at Mahattan New School) said:
Classroom practice must be based on richly understood and deeply held beliefs about how children learn to read. In other words, what teachrs say and do and how they engage children in reading acts must have theoretical underpinnings. Their practice is not based on a publisher's set of teacher directions or a handbok filled with teaching tips, but on concepts they themselves have examined carefully.
I then asked teachers to describe a belief they had regarding reading workshop and give the evidence that supports this belief in their classroom. This was hard for many and their beliefs were somewhat shallow. My goal will be to see if we can go a little deeper as we continue on this journey into balanced literacy. (This information came from Debbie Miller's book Teaching with Intention.)
Does anyone else have any thoughts along this line? We want kids to develop into reflective readers, but how often do we reflect on our own? Everyone is busy and reflecting takes time. I need to take the time. How about you?
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1 comment:
My gosh, you are amazing...I have hardly unpacked the car...in fact, I haven't. I got home Friday in time to pick up the computer from the shop, swing by my daughter's and take dinner (she'd been at the emergency room with baby's high fever)and get myself ready for a weekend of kids back home.
I discovered, however, that the refrigerator was warm and the food I'd brought home for the weekend was spoiled...the immaculate bedrooms upstairs had been slept in...and the new case of beer had been depleted while I was gone...So...I scrubbed the frig, unplugged it, threw away most of the food...(Luckily, I have an extra refrigerator in the garage.) I got the rooms cleaned, new sheets on beds...in time for what turned out to be a great weekend...I am pooped, though.
So....I can't tell you how much I enjoyed seeing you, Elsie, and hearing about your collaborations and looking over your materials. It caused me to go back and read Serafini's blog...where he talks about a lot of these issues. I know that by the time kids get to high school, it's all about the rich discussions fostered in the classroom...
I promise I'll get back on here and add my thoughts. In the meantime, you've given me great direction because this really crosses all grade levels. It's really all about student centered classrooms.
Thanks!
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