Best Practices In The Classroom

Once I released responsibility to the kiddos yesterday, I decided to take a step back and analyze what can go better. I even caught on tape those moments of glory and moments of despair.  As I was watching the video, I started taking notes on their behaviors and anything that I thought was worth it.

 I quickly realized that many of the students thinking changed from one point of view to another. Before starting to teach the reciprocal strategies I gave a reading survey to analyze the students thinking and attitude towards reading strategies in general. In the pre- assessment I discovered that many of them were aware of strategies but did not really know how to use them. Another portion of the students felt that certain strategies were used for certain parts of the story only.    

As soon as I glanced back at my notes I realized that my students still need support. They were proficient in using the strategy when they had guidance on where to use them.  Eventually, my notes turned into a list of “myths” and teacher solution on how to break them.

One thing that I have to point out is that regardless of the outcome of yesterday their way of thinking has taken a turn. They understand that strategies are a game plan but for reading. This is how I explained it to them earlier in the year. One cannot read without having some sort of plan to understand the text. This is where reading strategies come into effect. To comprehend the text the reader must engage physically and mentally to accomplish this goals.

All reading strategies are successful when the reader becomes aware of when and how to use it. As teachers, we teach these strategies to facilitate comprehension and interaction with the text. Even though we have preference over certain strategies it’s always good for students to know an array of them in order to pick when necessary. The more the students know the better they are equipped to tackle whatever they are reading.

What other “myths” have you discover your students to have?