Disciplinary Literacy - ELA

Synthesis:

Jetton and Shanahan:
The reading this week focuses on literacy - how we can best teach literacy to help students be able to read, write, and communicate to the best of their ability. we need to expose our students to multiple types of texts and lessons. We need to model reading, writing and thinking strategies for students to be able to understand how to become independent students of literacy. We want students to make connections to their own lives and also connections across each discipline.

The text also discusses multiple literacies and the challenges of learning in the 21st century. The days of paper and pencil are coming to an end as students are learning through blogs, twitter wikis, and e-readers. Students are now expected to use advanced skills while learning and showing their knowledge. Students have to problem solve and work together to learn together. Then students demonstrate their critical thinking and technological skills when presenting information. Technology literacy is important, and will only become more important in the future.

The reading mentions multiple challenges when it comes to teaching writing. We cannot just assign a writing prompt to our students and expect them to write a great essay. We need to show our students different types of texts and genres. Exposure to text is an important part of improving vocabulary knowledge and literacy in general. We also need to teach our students about writing for different audiences, and how their writing should change depending upon who will be reading their work.

The text discusses the reading process in detail, from before it starts to after it ends. Questions are a vital part of this process. We need to ask students questions before they read that allows them to make personal connections to the text and engage them for the learning. Students can also write their thoughts and discuss feelings about the text or topic with peers. These discussions should talk about textual elements, themes of the story, and author intention. While reading, students need to continue writing, commenting on their thoughts and questions that they have about the story. After reading, students need to be able to demonstrate their comprehension of the text in multiple ways, including writing and speaking.

Hinchman and Sheridan-Thomas:
This reading discusses reading in every subject and how we can help improve student literacy in each subject area.
History- The students should interpret the text and be able to explain the text without repeating the author word for word. The students should also ask their own questions about the historical event and about the author. They should make connections to their own lives and connections to other subjects they are learning.
Science- Teachers should allow students to not only learn from textbooks, but also from online articles and magazines that can give students another perspective. Many times these articles will allow the students to make a real world connection to the topic.
Math- Reading for math can be challenging. It is important that students understand the mathematical vocabulary to comprehend the text.

The text also discusses how we can improve student engagement and motivation towards texts. Interest surveys and allowing choice with reading can be a big factor to help encourage students with their reading.

Responses:
(text to self)
While reading, I was thinking about how I could help my students in the future improve their literacy skills. I know that there is a lot that I can learn from my students since they are growing up in an era that they have always had technology at their fingertips. I know technology can help motivate students, so I want to use technology to help students learn and show their knowledge whenever it is possible.

(text to text)
The readings this week have connected to texts we have read in this class and texts I have read from the past about how we can help our students on their literacy journey and understanding text. We have read a lot about how modeling and teaching students to make connections is an important part of the learning process.

(text to world)
The text made me think of my experiences in middle school and high school. In schools today, motivation is such a huge issue. My teachers did not always create lessons that were relevant to us or that engaged us with the learning. I think this could have been improved if we were able to show our knowledge in ways other than a written test.

Questions:

1.  What are some teaching strategies that you like to do with your students every time you discuss a text?

2.   What are some different ways that students can demonstrate their knowledge of the text, other than the tradition written exam?

Thanks for reading! :)