Week 7: Reading Strand Blog Post

Week 7: Reading Strand Blog Post

Miss Kiley's 3rd Grade Class. Reading. Picture [Online Image]
Retrieved From https://sites.google.com/a/freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us/miss-kileys-3rd-grade-class/rotations/reading

Bilingual Monkeys. 43 Great Quotes on the Power and Importance of Reading. (September 10 2013). Picture [Online Image] Retrieved from http://bilingualmonkeys.com/43-great-quotes-on-the-power-and-importa

e-of-reading/

How to Help Students Who Struggle With Reading 

Reading is a subject I feel that all students struggle with at some point in their lives. Whether students struggle with sounding out the words, connecting the reading to real life experiences or understanding the text, everyone has struggled with some aspect of reading. I know I did; in the primary grades of elementary school I struggled with my letters. I would get b's and d's mixed up and read based on memorization, not understanding. Therefore, I received extra help from several resource teachers and you know what, I was at the top of my class by the following year in reading. The help I received benefited me hugely. However, at that point in my life, I found reading more of a chore than anything fun. Thus, I believe it is extremely important to make reading fun for students who struggle with it instead of making it a monotonous drill.

Students today are so connected to the internet and their technological devices, they are missing the simple beauty of reading because it might not be as cool or complex as their games and apps. Students need to re-learn and re-train their brains to understand the importance and benefits of reading books. How might reading become fun for our students that struggle with it? We need to bring back the creativity in learning how to read and promote a fun and engaging reading environment with new activities to expand our students reading comprehension, skills, and connections.

Fun Activities To Promote Reading

  

Rashmie. Mommy Labs. How to Make Story Stones and Facilitate Group Storytelling.
 (December 4 2012). Picture [Online Image] Retrieved from
 http://www.mommy-labs.com/creative-kids/art_craft_projects_kids/
how-to-make-story-stones-and-facilitate-group-storytelling-plus-birthday-pics/

Story Stones: Who doesn't love a great story filled with twists and turns and an adventure created entirely by the individual telling the story? Well, Story Stones are an excellent tool that students can use to promote storytelling, creativity and let their imaginations run wild. Story Stones are a tool that students in various grade levels can use to promote a fun reading environment. The idea of a Story Stone is that students can use them in large groups, small groups or one on one. Students can create the stones themselves or the teacher can create them based on what they want the students to speak about. Story stones are stones that have individual pictures on them and students use the picture to create and describe a story. Each student must incorporate their stone into the story when it is their turn. Thus, the story is created by the students, it is filled with uncertainty, entertainment and brings life and connections back into reading. I found this terrific idea on the Pinterest Page of Mommy Labs, http://www.mommy-labs.com/creative-kids/art_craft_projects_kids/how-to-make-story-stones-and-facilitate-group-storytelling-plus-birthday-pics/ . Rashmie, the author of the post, states that Story Stones are the perfect tool to help students who struggle with reading because it allows them to become "actively engaged" in the storytelling sessions rather than sitting by and being, "passive listeners". If the student becomes involved in the lesson they will get so much more out of it.



Julia M Kepler. Serendipity from Jewels. Story Bags.
(February 1 2011) Picture [Online Image].
Retrieved from http://www.serendipityfromjewels.com/2011/02/story-bags.html

Story Bags: Story Bags are similar to Story Stones in the sense that they promote storytelling and help to enhance a child's imagination and promote creativity. A Story Bag can be used in groups or with students one on one. Story Bags start off with "Once Upon a Time" and can be filled with anything the teacher or student desires. It all depends on who's making it. A Story Bag is filled with images and objects that the student picks out and has to use to help them tell their story. This is a fun way to get students engaged in reading stories and creating their own unique stories. I found this resource on another Pinterest Page, http://www.serendipityfromjewels.com/2011/02/story-bags.html promoting the joys of reading for students. Again this idea encourages students to think of reading as something fun and not a boring chore. 

 

 

Literature Circles: Below is a video that summarizes the topic and important points about Literature Circles. Literature Circles are another excellent tool that students can use to promote fun group reading. Literature Circles also promote student reading comprehension, the process of making connections, organization, and how to work diligently and effectively in a group setting. Literature circles are usually introduced in the junior grades and done in class. Groups of students read assigned books based on certain reading levels and must evaluate the book based on their specific task. Tasks may include: summarizer, illustrator, word watcher, connector, and discussion director. For example, one student might have the task of summarizing the chapters they read, another student will have to illustrate what they read or another student has to connect the reading to their lives/ the outside world. Literature circles are an excellent tool to get students working in groups and to promote a fun, inclusive and co-operative reading environment. Students can learn from one another and build upon their reading skills by helping each other out if they do not understand something.

 

DeGroat Alyssa. Literature Circles. (August 28 2014) Youtube [Online Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWVVxRDzlgg

Curriculum Connection

All three of the above resources fall directly in line with the Reading Strand under the Ontario Curriculum. Each of these resources can be manipulated to reflect the reading requirements for various grade levels and students skill sets. These 3 resources encourage and promote students to construct meaning and individual understanding behind what they are reading. As well, each resource allows students to communicate their understanding in a fun and informative way. Students can make their own meaning from creating their Story Stones and Story Bags. Moreover, students can work together to build upon their stories and learn to understand other student's point of view/understanding. Likewise, Literature Circles can develop student's reading fluency, identify their strengths as a reader and areas that they need to improve upon as a result of the various tasks they will have to complete for each book. Literature Circles help students to develop their personal views and reading comprehension skills. Students have to connect meaning to what they are reading, whether thats meaning to situations in their personal lives or the wider world. All three of these activities promote critical thinking, and it's development for each individual student as well as, encourage each student to think outside their comfort zones, be inspired by their imaginations and think creatively. 

Conclusion

Furthermore, as a future educator, I believe it is extremely important to promote creativity and imagination among my students. School can become boring for some, therefore, it is key to create a classroom that is always evolving. Some students love reading and others struggle with it. Consequently, it is important to introduce new and fun ideas that can not only build student's skills but also build their love for books and storytelling. Reading and reading comprehension is an imperative skill that all students must develop. However, it can be done in a variety of fun and informative ways that students will thrive off of.

If a teacher can constantly encourage her students to think outside the box, she is a successful educator. If a teacher can empower her students to love reading in our digital age, she is a successful educator. This post was directed at teachers to go outside their comfort zones and create a lesson that is out of the ordinary for teaching reading because not only will they be proud of it but so too will their students.

Positivity To Success. 15 Inspiring Jim Rohn Quotes on the Importance of Reading. Picture [Online Image]. Retrieved from http://www.positivitytosuccess.com/15-inspiring-jim-rohn-quotes-on-the-importance-of-reading/

Cheers, Courtney Helt

Week 5: Media Studies Blog Post

Week 5: Media Studies Blog Post

Stewart, Sarah. (March 25 2015). Picture [Online Image]
Retrieved From http://www.sais.org/news/223237/Schools-Using-Social-Media-in-Savvy-Ways.htm

 

Social Media's Relevance In The Modern Day Classroom

Technology is a huge aspect of our modern society. Specifically, social media impacts each and every one of us, especially the younger generations. Today's students, compared to my generation, are so plugged in and attached to their mobile devices, particularly engaged in social media. Thus, integrating social media into our classrooms has huge relevance for students in various grades. Students' today are extremely technologically advanced, therefore, they need to learn in a technological way in order to be successful. It's time to throw away the archaic overheads and handouts and promote a technological classroom through the use of social media. Below is a brief video stating the significance of using social media in the classroom setting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riZStaz8Rno

Cassidy, Kathy. (May 21 2013). YouTube Video [tvoparents].
Retrieved From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riZStaz8Rno

As the video above states, our schools are filled with students who have grown up with technology and grown up with the internet. Hence, technology is a tool for these students and social media is another way for students to access information and learn. Kathy Cassidy, a primary school teacher in Saskatchewan states that her students, as early as six years old can use social media such as blog sites and twitter to promote their learning.

This type of technological learning keeps students interested and engaged when it comes to school work. Social media provides various outlets for all different types of learners. Students can use videos, pictures, and writing to express their thoughts and knowledge on various subjects. As well, the excellent example of the use of blogs within our modern classrooms helps to track and record students work from the start of the year to the end. This digital record is created for each student and is always there. Thus, the excuse that a student has forgotten their homework or lost it becomes none existent. Kathy also states that the social media app Twitter allows students to connect with other classes and find out what other kids are learning. This promotes a wide outlook of learning and connections between differing classes and students.



Munson, Kristen. (2016). Picture [Online Image]
Retrieved from http://socialmediamom.com/social-networking-in-schools-yes-or-no/

Examples of Social Media in the Classroom

There are so many exceptional tools and apps that both teachers and students can use together to enhance learning within the classroom. There is still negativity that surrounds the word "social media". However, it is important to educate our students in regards to positive social media sites that help foster our students learning. For example, on the site teachthought.com there is a list of 10 social media sites applicable for both teachers and students. Such sites include: Edmodo, Wikispaces Classroom and Blackboard. Each of these sites proves that social media is relevant and prosperous within our classrooms.
http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/technology/10-different-social-media-sites-for-education/

Similarly, another key video below promotes the importance and growth that technology has within the classroom, particularly digital media for both students and teachers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbVKPhVCRFI

Gabgorrilla. (October 20 2011). YouTube Video.
Retrieved From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbVKPhVCRFI

Curriculum Connection

In regards to the curriculum outlining Media Studies, both the videos and the article promote the use of a variety of multi-media sources that both teachers and students can use in the classroom. The curriculum states that students must use various media sources to communicate their ideas effectively. Thus, the numerous apps and websites are used by students to communicate and develop their technological skills. As well, students can work collectively together when exploring various social media apps, hence, promoting collaborative group work that can move on into independent work. Furthermore, this development promotes critical thinking and helps students to relate back to their own lives and experiences through the multiple forms of media.

Conclusion

Accordingly, it is my duty as a future teacher to educate myself on the advancing and growing classroom, tips and tricks to engage students and the constantly changing technology. Student's today are far more advanced when it comes to technology, their lives are consumed by it. The relevance of technology, specifically, the use of social media within the classroom is more important now than ever. Therefore, it is imperative to re-shape our lessons to fit each and every one of our unique students. This re-shaping of lessons and experimenting comes with the responsibility to properly educate our students on the uses of media devices within the classroom. Students are already using their devices 95% of the time while they are home. Why not educate the students on proper social media usage for their studies as well as their free time. This will then promote an exciting learning environment in which the students are always wanting to learn more.


Rosenthal Tolisano, Silvia. Poster [Online Image] Retrieved from  http://langwitches.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/social-media-for-schools_tolisano_1.png