ELA Methods 1

I definitely found it interesting that there is not a specific category for Visual Literacy in the Common Core ELA State Standards. I see why it may be overlooked as I think teachers know that students often learn how to make visual connections outside of the classroom. This is not a sound way of teaching though because as teachers we can never assume that students know about the content that you teach them, this creates a stereotype in the classroom that will make students not want to speak up if they have a question. I think visual literacy can be used in most of these categories of CCSS for ELA. Adding any sort of material (Visual or not) that adds helpful way for the students to understand the material is helpful. Providing presentations and visual materials like pictures or drawings that might reflect instances that connect more with the student. I did however find some requirements in the CCSS related to visual literacy in the section "Integration of knowledge and Ideas CCSS...

      In discussing the topic of graphic novels, I find that people are often introduced to them at an early age because it helps them see the settings that characters are in without having to explain it through the text. Growing up I noticed that my classmates would often read Calvin and Hobbs but It didn't interest me because I found that visualizing the characters and their surroundings myself was one of the best parts about reading. I did however often read the comics in the newspaper every morning with my dad, it was a good way for us to hangout and gave us something to talk about and relate to our everyday lives. I just recently became more engulf in the world of graphic novels because of a college class I recently took. I think the class was called "World View Through Children's Lit" and this class allowed me to read literature from different cultures and allowed me to see their cultural settings that I wouldn't previously be able to visualize myself. Ha...

In reading the Common Core Standards I found It to be helpful as guidelines to follow as I come to understand what goals I need to set for my students. I think the standards that are set will allow students to be ready for college after the completion of high school. One thing I noticed is that as the grades went on the standards kind of stayed the same and they would just insert (See specific expectations here). I feel like this might make it easy for teacher to become complacent in their students progress thus far as they have already met the general requirements. Maybe this is put in place so that the students can hone in on their skills? Either way, I think its a good set of core standards for teachers to follow if they want their students to be college or career ready after high school. One thing I wish I could have had integrated into my schooling is more presentation to a audience at a younger grade level. If I would have started presenting at a younger age I feel like I would h...

After reading Brookfield's “Discussion as a Way of Teaching” all the teaching strategies to be a positive way to integrate discussion into the classroom. To start, I think that the discussion ground rules would be a good way to integrate discussion because it allows the students to get on the same page, in terms of how they think a good discussion should go. To answer the first question "Think of the best group discussions you've ever been involved in.  What things happened that made these conversations so satisfying?" The best group discussion I have been involved in is my intro to fiction class. We would all read the same short stories and when we got to class, the professor would usually have a opening question for us but then would allow us to take the conversation in our own hands and move from topic to topic. Everyone's opinion was valued because it allowed us to look at the same situation in a different way. I think that this kind of discussion can allow st...

In reading the PESB competencies, I found that my college experience thus far has succeeded in in most but not all of the Professions Educator Standards Board competencies. I found that my Literature and Communication classes alone cover a lot of these competencies. Being a English major and History minor, my whole college experience has been revolved around writing papers. Although my grammar and punctuation might be wrong sometimes, I would say areas in 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 are all mostly covered. My biggest area in need of improvement is in 6.0 Knowledge and Understanding of speaking and listening communications because I haven't had the amount of classroom practice I would prefer to have at this point in my college career. Another area I need to focus on is  1.D Understand diversity in language use, e.g., grammar, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, gender, and social roles. I am currently in ESLG class and I hope to broaden my understanding ...