Forrest Mobley

Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Ray-Ban Sunglasses

I really thought it was so awesome how she got each of her students to share their mental images.  I think this opens up conversation in the classroom and allows students to see their differences.  She then had her students draw the images they saw and she hung them up.  Students can see how differently they all think.  I believe that students should be able to see how their opinions and perspectives are different because it shows unique and also lets students know that when reading there is no 'right' way to view the story.  

I may talk with my group and use this strategy with our student so he may start to see the importance of creating visual images.  

I can't help but think about my student again.  I can't stress enough how much my student works so hard so know every word of a book.  I feel as if he is so focused on the words, he doesn't understand and have these visual images.  Reading with mental images will open a whole new imagination for my student and I want him to understand how important that is, as well as knowing the words.

Post It Notes help so students don't have to go back and search for ideas, they can just stick the post it in as they read.

This reminded me so much of the books we have read, especially with Paley and Miller.  We have learned so much about these authors just through their reading.  Paley's students also learned so much through Leo Lionni through the books.  You would think these students were best friends with the author, but really just found passion through his books

I thought this article was very relevant to the student I am working with.  My group has been discussing the phonics of reading and that is the way our student reads.  He is more focused on 'knowing' the word rather than reading the book and understanding it.  The holistic approach is more useful for students because of repeated words helping to have little conscious awareness.

Obviously I love talking in the classroom so when I keep reading these opportunities that allow children to talk and reflect I get really excited.  I believe the best way to help children learn and grow is to allow them to talk with each other and the teacher about what their are learning and why they think it is important. 

Miller Chapter Four

Today, in our KidWatching class, we went on a tour of the school.  Outside of the classrooms was a survey of what each student wanted to learn that year.  The teacher wrote down all answers and then they students picked the top three.  The class then did a tally on which topic would be number one, and the children picked chocolate milk.  So now the teacher is basing her lessons around milk (she even is in the process of getting a goat to come to the school).  This article reminded me of this experience because the teacher is letting the students pick what they want to learn about and what their interests are.  They are more likely to be more interested in their work.  No milk is not pop culture, but have a survey for your class of their favorite show, movie, and video game and you will learn more about your students.   

This quote really stuck with me.  It is sad to know that boys feel this way, but in a way it is not very shocking.  "Boys are Boys" is a phrase we here a lot and yes that is true.  Boys like stuff that interests them. They live TV, video games, comics, ninja turtles, etc. If books they are given are about a teddy bear's day or are told to write about how him and little sisters play, you probably will not get good responses. This article gave statistics of how much boys (Black and White) watch TV and play video games.  Use that in your classroom.  This goes back to getting to know your students interests.  Find out the most recent trends in TV of super heroes and use that with your boys.

You can tell that Debbie Miller really has hope for her students and has a passion for what she does just be reading what she writes.  My favorite part of this article was when she described the afternoon work activity time.  She realized that her students were not calling her name or pulling on her sleeve and stepped back to look. What she saw made me smile.  She saw a little girl in the rocking chair reading while others students listened. The little girl began to ask questions about why this happened in the book or what could be done differently.  She was writing on the board while other students responded.  Another set of students were preparing for a play on a story that they had read.  As she described these, I could visualize the students.  I smiled why I read because I have seen this happen in my classroom.  Once students understand expectations, they are able to be independent and freely explore. And when this happens, we (as teachers) can enjoy our students and watch them grow. 

YOU RELATE IT TO WHAT THEY LIKE.  It seems so simple, but it's something most people forget to do. Allowing students to explore and learn about something they enjoy will increase motivation, promoting a better environment for your classroom.  Whether it be comics, super heroes, music, books, or television, incorporating what the students find exciting will most likely better succeed.

One thing I did notice though is that these students are in second grade.  I am in a first grade classroom right now (which yes, is a year behind) but I do not see anything like this going on in my classroom much less see much discussion and exploration.