Module 5

Effective Classroom Management for Literacy Instruction Video
I really like how these students in the video were working on hands on activities through the use of the word cards.  I think this is a valuable way for students to get exposure to the words as well as practice skills like antonyms, homophones, etc.  These do have to be monitored though to make sure students are learning and correctly completing the activity.  The teacher in the video had students make a booklet and draw out pictures of words that are opposites etc.  This will ensure that the teacher is reviewing the student's work and then provide remediation through small groups if needed.

What is Literacy and Why is it Important?
This video has all the elements that encompass the reasons that we as teachers, should get students engaged in reading.  We need to be creating life long learners through reading.  As stated in the video, reading takes you on a journey and I truly believe that.  As a teacher we need to figure out ways to get students to understand that statement and view reading as a life skill, fun, and not boring.

Using Literacy Centers to Strengthen Reading and Writing Instruction
During Reader's and Writer's workshop this balanced literacy approach is used through small groups, whole groups, mini lessons, stations, and independent reading activities.  This is a great time for the teacher to plug in other content areas through the use of reading and writing skills.

Designs for Balanced Literacy
At my school we are required to have many of these ideas for classroom designs in our classrooms.  We must have small group areas, a place on the floor for whole group mini lessons, the classroom library, etc.  I think this set up provides for the optimum amount of collaboration between students, individual areas for independent work, and teacher directed small groups.

Spaces and Places by Debbie Diller
I've heard of Debbie Diller but not of her book about classroom design.  I love how she provides real classroom ideas and pictures.  At the beginning of each year I struggle with how to organize my areas and make the room feel not as small.  With 29 large 5th graders the room quickly becomes very small and overcrowded.  I am going to look into this book to get some ideas for the next school year so I can maximize my space in my classroom.  This will make instruction so much more fluid throughout the room.

Supplemental Materials

Talking Word Wall
I love this audio dot talking word wall! This allows all students, especially those low readers or ELL students to use the word wall effectively and more often than they would.  I love this idea and think this would even be a great resource for upper grades.  I have never seen this before!

Phonological Awareness Activity Using Hand Pointers
These hand pointers provide the student with a movement while reading and allow them to focus on the parts of the word rather than the whole word itself.