Essay - Justin Clark
Question one: It is my belief that literacy in today´s time is being able to make sense of as well as engage in advanced reading, writing, listening, and speaking and as educators we are challenged with the task of coming up with proper strategies to meet these needs of our students in all subject areas. There are a few strategies that I have used in the past to incorporate balanced literacy into classroom instruction. The first method I love incorporate is the read -aloud method. I often times read out loud to the classroom as well as in small groups so that I can model the correct strategies and behaviors of students. For example, I model reading behaviors, such as handling a book and reading from top to bottom and left to right as well as making sure I expose students to books with rhyming or predictable patterns for critical thinking and comprehension. From books, articles and even instructions I make sure that I read with enthusiasm, rhythm, and the proper intonation to keep students engaged and learning. A second strategy I have used is the shared reading strategy. This were I read along with the students so that students are able to discover new words and their meanings. While warming up to a book I usually engage my students by asking questions to prompt discussion. For example, if we are reading a book about a circus, I may ask “What do you think our new book is about?” “Who has been to the circus?” Using this particular strategy I am able to get students to actively participate in reading. They are ready to learn and some may even try to predict how a story will progress. Also with this method I am able work on understanding and illustrations with students that will help construct meaning while increase and developing new vocabulary which will aid in all subject matters. Lastly, the third strategy I like to implement in lessons is word study. Words study I consider to be important because this helps students become fluent readers with a strong vocabulary as well as it gives them opportunity to fully explore and manipulate words. I try my best to use the words study strategy in a fun and interactive way for students, so that they are eager to learn more as they progress. In the past I have used word search games, pattern sorting, and even proofreading to aid students in letters and the sound recognition as well as learning how to pick out root words. Having a strong foundation in literacy is crucial to a student's academic success and incorporating these strategies above as well as others can give students the tools they will need to be successful.

Question two:
Reading: Foundational Skills » Grade 2 » 4 Teacher: Class Class
Students: Yes Yes
Explanation and Purpose: For about 6 weeks we will be learning important information about words, by studying the foundational skills of phonics. I want to let you guys in on little secret, Phonics is the link between letters and sounds in words. If you guys manage, which I know you all will because you all are so smart; to learn these foundational skills you will be able to read words more accurately and fluently.
Okay! I know you all are like Mr. Clark what does fluent mean, well let me tell you! Fluent reading is when a person reads smoothly. In other words, it sounds like a person speaking naturally, like I am doing with you guys right now! Only you are reading! We will study phonetic foundational skills so that you can read smoothly and accurately. I know you all are like Mr. Clark, what does accurate mean, well let me tell you! Accurate reading is when a person pays attention to all the letters and all the words on the page while reading. If you super hero students are ready to get started let me hear say OH YEAH! Teacher: By show of hands, who can give me a reason as to why it is important to read correctly?
* Waits on students answers * Teacher: Those are some awesome answers (writes on board)! Let me see if I can add some more! Do you guys think that people need to understand what they have read? What about understanding the words correctly? What about the different meanings of words? Teacher: What are some tools do you think a person can use to read words correctly?
*Waits on students answers* Teacher: Those are some pretty great answers! Do you guys think paying attention to the letters on the page is important? What about not guessing at words? Or not skipping over words? What about letter sound fluency; or, what about automatic recognition of high frequency words? Teacher: Let´s go ahead a look closely at what we will be dealing with. Open up your workbooks! Teacher: Now I am going to read these two sentences to you. I want you guys to put your super ears on and listen carefully!
Example 1: ¨ The horse was very hot¨
¨ The house was very hot¨

Teacher: Did you hear a difference? Who can tell me what words are different? * Student answer- House and horse.
Do these sentences mean the same thing? * Student answer- NO
What does the first sentence mean? What might you do if the horse got hot? * Student answer-
What does the second sentence mean? What might you do if the house got hot? * Student answer-
The only difference we see between these two sentences is one single letter! When we don't read what's on the page, it is easy to misunderstand what we are reading.
Activity/ Assessment 1: Teacher: Now I want you to go through the rest of these examples and circle the words that different in each pair of sentences and place the letter that is different in the box beside the number. We will go over them in 15 miniutes.
*Walk around the room and check for understanding*
Activity/ Assessment:
(Different Day)
Split students into groups and load of up smart board (if applicable if not use print out) and play Teacher: Now this game is going to help us with our word recognition, our spelling as well as our understanding of different word meanings! Now since it is almost Thanksgiving you superheroes are going to turn into talking spelling turkeys. Now the objective of this game is to recognize the hidden words on the turkey's fence and spell them correctly. I need everyone to put on their listening ears for the directions. * Step one- You are to move the turkey along the fence to reveal the hidden vocabulary word * Step two- Once you recognize the word say the word out loud * Step three- Turn around away from the board and spell the word to your fellow turkey teammates if you spell the word correctly your teammates will say gobal gobal and the next member on the teammate will move the turkey on the board to reveal the next word. * Step four- Repeat this process until your turkey has reached the end of the fence and all words have been recognized and spelled.
The team that completes their word list in the fast time wins
Question 3
Understanding students is very important to any teacher in a classroom. I consider planning how to teach students or ways to present a subject in an interesting manner; an educator needs to know what motivates students, what background the students are bringing to the classroom, as well as the students interests. There are several strategies that I plan on using to better understand, communicate with and effectively interact with all students and their families in order to successfully teach all students. My first step would be by talking to the students and their families. The purpose of this would be to open the lines of communication between myself the students and their families. I consider I am not going to learn anything from my students if my students do not want to communicate with me. Simple verbal communication is a non threatening way I can begin to make that connection and I believe it will help create a safe environment of trust. Secondly, by incorporating activity called star student of the week each week a different student gets to bring in pictures as well as a list of their five favorite things and three things they want to do in the future or a family adventure/experience over that past weekend. The purpose of this is that each student feels special and important for the week, while allowing me, the teacher, and the opportunity to get know the students even better. I think it is great that students bring things into the classrooms that represent themselves as a form of expression. Because I believe you can use every moment as a teachable moment, I would (if grade level appropriate) have students express this through class presentations verbally or through writing, and/or through visuals aids that they would create. Lastly, I do believe that having a strong open communication with the student’s parents/guardians will allow for success throughout the school year. There are several tools that I plan on using to make sure that I am doing my part in informing the student supporters (parents/guardians). For example, for those individuals who prefer the traditional options, I will provide notes, calls home, printed newsletters and conferences. For my more techie student supporters I will utilize options like, email, texting, and twitter or classroom blogs.