When You Believe

"If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere." - Alicia Keys

Because this semester marks the end of another spring semester as well as the beginning of summer break, it almost feels like everything is ending all at once. But as an optimist, we have to look at every ending as a new beginning. Like our students, teachers struggle, whether it be personal and professional, because we are not gods and superheroes.

We do, however, assume the roles and responsibilities that challenge us to go beyond what we are capable of. We encourage and motivate students to do their best, but every once in a while, we stumble and fall. Therefore, we need to remind ourselves of our strength and persevearance, and that anything is possible. Anything is achievable!


Good luck to everyone. Take care and keep in touch.

P.S. Yolie, can you please share with me the awesome recipe for your dip? Thank you in advance!


Love,
Simon

Batter Up!

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" Dr. Seuss

I have had many troubles this semester balancing my work load. I must admit that I fell through with my blogging but I am glad that I was able to keep up in my own way. I am glad we were all able to complete our work for the semester! I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to have worked with! Great Job!

One Art

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." ~Mark Van Doren

As the Spring semester concludes, I must admit that this quote resonated with me because it closely related to the material we covered in class. When it comes to teaching students, learning is a process of discovery. As Language Arts teachers, we must guide the reading path of discovery: from words, to sentences, and into ideas. As teachers, we guide our students into that journey of learning new things and ideas,the complex process of discovering and rediscovering.

Teaching at its best!

"Good teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more." -Bob Talbert

I believe when all teachers went into this profession, we didn't think about how much we were going to get paid. We went into the profession because we truly believe that we were going to make a difference with all our students. Sadly, their are many bad seeds in the teaching profession that are just there to collect a paycheck every two weeks without giving their all. In return, students pay the price of not being prepared for the future and that is costly!

In Chapter 13, Taberski uses reader response sheets in her teaching. When I was a classroom teacher for seven years I used this as one of my writing centers. My students just loved writing about what they read and drawing their favorite part of the book. In return, I loved reading what they had to write about!

Sky's the limit!

"Life is amazing and the teacher had better prepare himself to be a medium for that amazement." -Edward Blishen

There are so many wonderful things that a teacher can teach a student not only in the classroom, but about life as well. The opportunities that a teacher can open for a student is endless!

What stood out in Chapter 12 for me was the weekly reading logs that Taberski had her students fill out. Each student wrote about how they were successful in their reading for the week and for next what their goal was. That is positive teaching at its best!

Give students something to think about!

"I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework." -Edith Ann

Teachers who bring imagination and excitement to students are the true teachers for our students!

Taberski mentions in Chapter 11 that teachers need to find the right books for all their students to read. I started my library for my classroom early on before I began teaching. Then when I started my profession, my library grew abundantly. I got my students to order from Scholastic and got points to add on to my collection. Not to mention that attending the IRA monthly meetings gave me the opportunity to purchase more for my students and to use them in my thematic units. I am proud of my classroom library!

Touch the Hands of Tomorrow

"Teachers don't impact for a year, but for a lifetime." -Anonymous

A teacher's work is everlasting. All students remember the teacher that made the most difference in their lives.

The most interesting part of Chapter 10 was Taberski providing several key practices for doing one-one-one instruction with students. I like how she starts off her individual conferences with telling how the student is doing and she is very honest with her feedback. I could visualize her in the classroom as this dynamic teacher getting through to all her students. What a wonderful sight to see! A practice that I would love to take on if I do go back into the classroom one day!

A teacher's dream

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth." -Dan Rather

All teachers should believe that their students will be successful in life. Teachers are there to mold and shape them even if the students like it or not!

What I got out of Chapter 9 was Taberski discussing her "dependable" spelling pattern word wall. When I was a second grade teacher for seven years, I had a word wall of my own in my classroom. These words were used as spelling words and my students would define and use these words in their daily journal entries. My student won the Second Annual Second Grade Spelling Bee. Her winning word was "anxiously". It was also a word in my word wall!

Keeping Up with ED 647

"Tell me and I forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll understand." Chinese Proverb

Involving students in any kind of lesson is always a valuable way to teach them!

Its been awhile sine I last blogged. I apologize. Life and all of its obstacles have gotten in my way. I am going to try and be dedicated in consistently blogging to you all for the remainder of the semester. I have been good in keeping up with my assignments but I haven't been good at visiting this blogg site. I enjoy reading our chapters and writing a reflection about the different startegies and skills that Taberski discusses. I am preparing for our upcoming Lesson Plans and Position paper that is due for our class. How about you all? See you all soon!

Teaching should be meaningful

"A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops." -Henry Brooks Adams

To put it simply, a teacher gives direction to all their students. It is the student's choice to take that inspiration and become the great person that he/she is intended to be.

I enjoyed reading Chapter 8 because Taberski wrote about her experiences about guided reading. During my student teaching, my master teacher used this strategy in her reading. She was in charge of two reading groups while I was in charge of one. It was great to learn how to find the different kinds of books to fit each child's need in the group that I was in charge of. Eventually, I was in charge of the whole class which was a challenge that I embraced.

Read Alouds, Shared Reading and Story Mapping

"Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another." -Marva Collins

My 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Zak was an awesome teacher. I remember that we had spelling contests in her class. The class would line up in front of her and each of us would get a turn in spelling a word. The first student to get to the front of the line three times would win the contest. I won many spelling contests. Mrs. Zak always encouraged me to read more to find new words to spell. At the end of the year, I received an award for being an excellent student in her class. She made me feel so special!

In Chapter 7, it mentions read alouds, shared reading and story mapping. These are great strategies to use in the classroom to improve student achievement. I remember having a student that had trouble recalling what he read after just finishing a story. I used story mapping to help the student with this problem. We labeled the paper with the characters, setting, problem, main events and the resolution of the story. At the end, when the student realized that he accomplished this task of remembering what he read, it was great to see him smile for the first time.

Retellings

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child." -Forest Witchcraft




This quote summarizes why I became a teacher. I know that the teaching profession has many demands and is not the best paying job. I became an educator to inspire my students to become the very best that they can be. Hopefully, I make them realize that they have the potential to see that sky's the limit and everything is within their grasp with hard work and determination.


In Chapter 6, it mentions retellings. The activity of retelling involves reading a book to your students. After the read aloud, students are to draw a picture from their favorite part of the story. Then they try their best to recall the story through their writing. I have used this strategy in teaching. It allows me to see if my students understand what is being read to them. It displays their writing potential or abilities and how I can help them improve their writing.

Reading Success

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -William Butler Yeats

Even after ten years of teaching, the greatest feeling in the world is when I see the "spark" in my students' eyes signifying that they understand what is being taught.

In Chapter 5, it mentions running records. A running record is a method of observing and recording a child's oral reading using any text he/she happens to be reading. I have used this strategy in the classroom. My students read a portion of a book that interests them. I record my observations. Then I show my students their miscues and have them practice reading the book. The next day, I have the students read the book to me again. It is great to see their progress and over time their reading fluency improve.

A Teacher's Role

"The greatest sign of a success for a teacher...is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist." -Maria Montessori

Every year, my goal as a teacher is to be able to have each student work independently. It is the greatest satisfaction that I can have when my students are able to do a task without my assistance.

Chapter 4 mentions that the author at the beginning of the year gathers "just-right" books for her students and schedules reading conferences for each of them. The author also uses writing conferences and guided writing to see their ability. In my very first year of teaching, I used these strategies when grouping my students. At the end of the year, I did individual conferences again to see if each student improved in their reading and writing. It was a great feeling when I did see progress in my students.

Think, Think, Think

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think if only you try!" Dr. Seuss

You have to be able to think about the decisions that you make. Everything that we do in life, there is always a decision and a consequence. Educators think about the ways that we can make learning fun in our classroom, we think about the appropriate materials to use with our students, we think about the teaching strategies that we should utilize that meets the needs of our students, we think about games to play, books to read etc ..Oh, we think, think and think....

Ready or Not

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." Auguste Rodin

Through my years of teaching, there were times when I would think about the set up of my classroom, the materials I chose to use, my methods of teaching and what would happen if I had done things differently. I never had just one way of doing anything. With all I've been through and all I've done, I never thought any of my experiences were a waste of time.

The wisest decision I've ever made was trying it out.

In Chapter 3, Taberski points out the organization of classroom space, materials, and class schedules. I really enjoyed this chapter because I was able to relate to many of the experiences mentioned by Taberski. I love to organize! Organizing my classroom space was by far the best experience for me. Materials and class schedules were always worked out with colleagues. I had a very supportive grade level when I first came in to teaching. I had an abundance of resources and materials to execute any lesson. As a teacher, I believe that my classroom reflected the goals I had set up to achieve. Teachers should continue to create classrooms that reinforce strategies and methods that allow children to practice and experience learning.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

" The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss did a fantastic job in simply stating the obvious, books are a gateway to a world where print is used to teach us many things. Allowing our children to discover what is inside a book can lead them to live a print-rich life.

Now a days, it's a difficult task to get our students interested in reading. But when we work in tandem with our families in making reading a powerful thing, reading becomes enjoyable and not a task.

Get Lost in a Book

"The worth of a book is measured by what you can carry away from it." ~James Bryce

Sharon Taberski brings up an interesting point in Chapter Four of the book, where she speaks of getting children to learn how to love reading. This is especially challenging because reading has become more of a requirement than recreation. She also points out that becoming a fluent reader can also make you a fluent writer, and I find that especially true. This rapid decline in literacy is reflected in the standardized tests that are given within the school year, but such decline is evident in the classroom as well.

With that said, it seems almost impossible to get a student to read on their own time and at their own will, but if we, as educators can suggest reading materials that will cultivate their love for reading, we can definitely get the student to pick up a book and read, even if we're accomplishing the feat, one student at a time. I truly believe that if the student came across a book or a novel in which they were interested in, and related to, they would definitely enjoy that reading experience.

JFK

I hope everyone is doing well these days. Thanks for the get well wishes, it really brighten my spirits knowing that i have such caring classmates. For the last two weeks, I was down with the flu and I am now catching up with my assignments.

Quote: "A child miseducated is a child lost." John F. Kennedy

As simple as he said it, a child miseducated is a child lost. I see that sometimes with students, when they don't know something and they don't understand something taught to them, they literally have that "confused" look on their faces. I tend to look and pay attention more to the students with the confused look, than the others because they are the ones who need me more!

Words of Wisdom

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless."
-- Mother Teresa

It's been a rough week. I found out recently that a teacher from my team has been defaming my name to our students, solely blaming me for her student's lack of proficient writing skills. To top it off, I am still struggling, and thus dreading, my fifth period class. The class is composed of all sorts of misfits, and all my attempts to reach them and TAME them have been fruitless. The cherry on top of it all? I finally ran out of ink, so today, I was unable to print some much-needed instructional handouts.

Although I digress, I want to go back to my fifth period and that unnamed gossip queen of a teacher. There are times, situations where I feel that I need to express how I feel inside, and to just explode in pure anger and fury, but I always come back to Mother Teresa's quote. She reminds me, with such simple words, that when faced in complicated situations, we have to be the bigger and the better person. After all, it is what we do and what we say that defines us and shows who we really are.

sick

I apologize for the delay in my blogging, I have been sick these past few days. So now I am going to attempt to catch up to everyone else.

Your role as a leader is even more important than you imagine. You have the power to help people become winners. Ken Blanchard

As Teachers we do have the power within us to make everyone in our classrooms winners. Achievement can shine through in different forms such as reading all the spelling words on the board properly, getting an "A" on a math test, or reciting a poem in front of the whole class. We have the power to help our students do so.

Think Positive!!!

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -- Helen Keller

Being optimistic in all aspects of education is critical when teaching children. As a teacher, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend, being positive gives me the strength to help others. I can only give what I am to others around me with hope and confidence that they will do the same to others around them.

Touch the Lives of Others

All you touch and all you see, Is all your life will ever be.

- - - Pink Floyd, "Breathe"

Although this song has nothing to do with teaching, it resonates with me because as teacher, touching the lives of others comes with the job. At the end of the day, if you can walk away knowing that you made a difference in a student's life, whether it was teaching them how to write a Tanka poem or to distinguish a gerund between an adjective that ends with "ing," or inspiring them to pursue a goal or dream, there are personal rewards gained from the profession that are far more satisfying than material possessions. We connect with our students through teaching. I have a former student from two years back, who e-mailed me recently asking for advice, and I was TOUCHED and HONORED to reciprocate. I had become more than a teacher to this student. I had become a trustworthy mentor, a friend, and a confidante. And to me, that is a reward onto itself.

A Little Work and More Play

In chapter two, Taberski discusses defining goals for teaching children to read. I find myself in amazement after administering quarterly reading assessments to students. I've noticed that at my school, reading scores have soared higher than expected. In my office while I administer tests, I encourage students waiting to be tested to read a book of their choice from my book collection. Yet to my surprise, most students know what book to quickly pick and begin to read. Motivating children to love to read didn't seem to be a concern. But shortly after, listening to several students read and later begin to have difficulty reading became a concern. Chapter two provided many running record samples in student assessment notebooks. After reviewing figure 2-2 through 2-10, I realize that I can definitely set goals for teaching students to read. But I would need to keep in mind the characteristics of my readers at their different stages of reading.

"Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theatre." -- Gail Goldwin

I remember not too long ago preparing for a lesson that took me almost 2 hours to do. When the day came, I taught the lesson and realized that I spent too much time preparing for it. My students had so much fun without all the preparations and the day went better than expected.

Defining My Goals

Taberski described in chapter 2, how defining goals for our students in our classrooms can become a powerful thing. As we set goals for our students, our mission is to help them achieve it. Many of the strategies she describes in the reading, made me reflect on how I can set goals for my struggling readers in my classroom and how I can modify the goals I have already established for them to become independent strategic readers.

Quote: "A good teacher is like a candle- it consumes itself to light the way for others." Author Unknown. I like to think of myself as a candle, i try to bring into my class a different perspective of teaching and learning for my students, I want them to see the "light" in every lesson..

Wishes to Save The World Through Reading

The rhetoric that Harwayne uses to emulate Taberskis’ voice and opinions about teaching reading has tweaked my perspective.  After reflecting on chapters one and two, I am reminded that reading teachers can do much with their methodology and skills if only they know from where they are thinking and for what it is that they are striving for.  Larry Elder coalesces the chapters with this truly inspirational quote: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”  In the realms of teaching reading, it really was just my wishful thinking to believe that if only I was “given a cape and a tiara, I could save the world”.  Through examples and stories, Harwayne reminds me that it is the students’ behaviors and needs that set the tone:  it is from where they are thinking that should direct and define my goals as a reading teacher.  Thus, I am now inspired and believe that this reading teacher can still do much to save the world, however, the cape and tiara should be given to students; and given this perspective … I really don’t mind.  

Image:  images.google.com

At Turtle Speed

"Slow and steady wins the race" -Aesop

I like this quote because it suggests that something negative can be turned into a positive. Sometimes, we need to allow the students to evolve and grow at their own pace. The best we can do is nurture and guide them to the path that will lead the individual to success.

As mentioned in Chapter One and Two of the text, we need to familiarize ourselves with the way the students learn, and implement strategies that will mold student learning. With such diversity, some learners will be ahead, some will be behind. However, we do not simply give up on those who have fallen behind. We pace them and guide them until they are ready to be great on their own.

On an unrelated note, it was really great meeting everyone today!

Ode to Dumbledore

"It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities."

- Albus Dumbledore

I chose this quote because its from one of my favorite fictional characters in literary history. Albus Dumbledore was the wise wizard who served as Harry's father figure in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. By far, it is still my favorite work of modern fantasy fiction.

This quote has always resonated with me. When one's abilities and talents are not properly utilized, they can go wasted and unrecognized. As teachers, we want our students to use these abilities to succeed in life. We want to guide our students in making the good choices, the smart choices in life. I strive to inculcate those values into my curriculum, hoping and believing that it will lead to success beyond academia.

My First Quote

"Learning is finding out what we already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers, and teachers." -- Richard Bach

My first class was fun and full of laughs. I'm so happy to be around wonderful people in the Language and Literacy program. Thank you for all the help and encouragement.

This quote reflects my experience today in class. I already know that I can make it through this class with all the support and confidence. All I need to do is continue to do what I love best...to learn. My goal is that at the end of this semester, my classmates will benefit from what I had to share with them. I'm a learner, a doer, and most especially a teacher at heart.

Sarah's test

Thank you for helping me blog.

WE ARE INSPIRED

The following quote is the epitome of what drives me to belong to the language and literacy program.  As John F. Kennedy so eloquently puts it: "Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength of the nation.” 

This quote takes me back to a specific question that was posed to me on the first day of my very first language and literacy course.  The question was “why did you choose the language and literacy program?”  While in my heart I knew that becoming a reading specialist was what I desired, I really did not have a “solid” response.  Today I do.  I think that I’ve always known that my passion was reading.  I just never could understand why it wasn’t everyone else’s.  I now know that I chose the language and literacy program because I truly do have private hopes and dreams to utilize my developed abilities to romance the people of Guam so that they too can find their love for reading like the way I do.  


Image:  images.google.comm

From Where Are You Thinking?

It's great that our class is online this semester! I am going to enjoy what we all have to say to one another through our moodle sessions and our blogging. See you online!

"I think a hero is an oridnary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." Christopher Reeve

I am my hero! My three graduate classes this semester is going to become my overwhelming obstacles but if I am committed to being organized, continue to stay on task, I will persevere through it all.

Image: http://www.google.com/

January 22, 2010: 1st Day in ED647

It was a good first day and a great reunion.  I am feeling really good about this course and cannot wait to learn more strategies so that I can use them in the classroom and in the literacy lab.  I am also feeling great about the opportunity to be able to work with my classmates:  Yolie, you have always been such a great support and now Simon, I finally have a colleague that I can share high school strategies and experiences with. 

Well folks, here is my inspirational quote for the day: "Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve." -- Mary Kay Ash

“Don’t limit yourself” has got to be my motto for 2010 because day and night In my mind I can see my goals materializing and believe that with the right plan, tools, support and desire achievement will be attainable. 

Image:  images.google.com

Welcome to ED647!

Dear ED647 Students,

Welcome to class! This semester we will engage in various reading strategies that you will find useful in the classroom. There's no doubt that you will be "On Solid Ground" when you authentically empower your students to experience the various literacy activities that will be introduced to you. Good luck!

Best regards,
Dr. Rivera