Choosing Words to Study

Tier 1                Tier 2                Tier 3
quitter             memorized         locomotive
kicking              tolerate           street urchins
animal              gratitude
promised

These words come from Bud, Not Buddy chapter 2.  I would focus on the tier 2 words to discuss and teach with my students.  The tier 2 words are the words from the chapter that our students would actually use in their future education and in life.  Words such as "memorized" and "tolerate" are words that students use in their everyday life like memorizing spelling words and tolerating their siblings.  However, especially the second graders in my field placement, would not be able to read or write/spell these words in their schoolwork and homework.  Teaching these words would allow students to understand and connect the words they use in their conversations with each other and then hopefully eventually be able to use them in their writing.     

Fluency!

I have learned a lot about fluency in my teaching classes over the years. It has been strongly brought to my attention how important it is in a child's writing and language development. It is a huge determiner for reading and can help carry children across the grades. In Millers article it talks about the importance of Talking Aloud. This strategy I feel is extremely beneficial to both the students and the teacher. Miller on page 3 talks about how planning, authenticity, and precise language truly matter and give students a valuable reading lesson. This allows teachers to think about what the story/language offers students, if it gives authentic data to real life, and help them reach further vocabulary. This strategy of "thinking aloud" would help students with accuracy and prosody. This is because it, like Miller says-"builds a framework". Teachers can ask students to point to words and text to build further ideas and think about how the text connects to real life or them. Therefore, they're learning to accurate way to see into the text and structure of how the story works. Students will talk about the "precise language" and build accurate vocabulary and accurate ideas about the text as a whole. I think this strategy is get because it incorporates comprehension as well and building a schema to how they view a story or text. This article also talked about text-to-text and text-to-self. Which are very important aspect that connect to fluency that teachers/adults overlook at times. In the Neuflued article, I found it interesting how valuable comprehension strategies were when thinking about fluency. When you think about it, it is so true how much thinking about the text before, during, and after can pertain to a child's reading speed. Fluency is all about how a student gets through the text with an easy flow, precise rhythm, and this comes from how they understand and make sense of the text. When children are exposed to sight words, vocabulary, and much practice all the components of fluency work together to help them achieve their language development/fluency. Neuflued mentions the strategy of teaching self regulated use (page 8). This is a independent task on the students and requires them to have a growing repertoire, understand flexibility, and think about the strategies to make them an independent reading. This strategy stresses a lot of practice. When a student practices reading and stops to think about what they're reading they are building on their fluency. I have learned about all the connections comprehension, practice, modeling, and thinking aloud have connected to accuracy, reading speed, and prosody...but never really put together how much they influence each other and build on several main components of fluency!

In my field placement there is a lot..A LOT..of stress on reading. They do the daily 5 now which has several language components related to the growth of reading in a child. My MT makes it a fun process but makes sure the job is done. She incorporates spelling words that relate to text..have them think about the words they read...and ask comprehension questions before and after. These strategies she used allows the students to work on their fluency and become sufficient readers! During their reading time with the teacher, the students also hold smilely sticks to point to each word as they read. If they can't get through a word she has them stop and sound out the word. She reminds them of their word songs and phoneme segmentation. I think this is a huge help for students and their reading fluency. They do phoneme segmentation every morning and sound out the words of the week and MANY words they have already practiced! My MT has encouraged me to do the same in my classroom because it has helped with their fluency and all three (prosody, reading speed, and accuracy) in reading the text!

New Literacies Project Reflection & Lesson

1.     YOUR CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING

My conceptual understanding of literacy has changed a great deal since the start of the semester.  At the beginning, I believed that literacy only consisted of the basic aspects we learn in school.  Writing and reading were the only parts of literacy that I even thought about regarding language arts instruction and was more than surprised when these new ideas were introduced to us.  Creating and viewing these research projects has really helped me to expand my working knowledge of literacies.  Seeing the cultural, social, visual, and emotional aspects of literacy has shown the diverse nature of language arts.  I now understand that in order to get a full education, these literacies need to be involved.  Having the general knowledge for each of these categories will help all students learn effectively because they will know how to show correct expressions, understand the people they are in school with and show how they have learned visually.           

2.     EFFECTIVE LITERACY INSTRUCTION

In order for literacy instruction to be effective, an instructor needs to understand their students and how they learn.  In the second grade class that I do my fieldwork in, the incorporation of emotional literacy has already been incorporated.  Therefore, introducing new technologies would be the challenge for this class.  I believe that there are a few things that are needed in order to successfully teach emotional literacy in the second grade.  Students, especially those at a younger grade level, become distracted extremely easily in the classroom.  Therefore the inclusion of hands-on activities makes it more bearable for the students to sit and pay close attention to the lesson.  Second graders, at least in my experience, are also very fascinated with the technology displayed in their classroom.  Using these technologies, and better yet allowing the students to use them, will dramatically increase their comprehension and retaining of the given information.              

3.     LESSON PLAN

Lesson Topic/Title:  Emotional Literacy using Weebly

Target Area & Rationale:  Learning about emotional literacy through the creation of a Weebly website.  Students will benefit from this lesson by gaining insight on the emotions that surround them everyday in an interesting and interactive manner.  Students will also gain experience with a new technology, which will increase their learning capabilities in diverse ways.    

List of Objectives:

·      Students will learn different emotions and be able to distinguish between them

·      Students will know how to effectively express emotions in correct and appropriate manners

List of Materials & Supplies Needed:

·      Computers

·      Smart Board

·      Internet

·      Weebly

·      List of emotions/feelings

Outline of Key Events: 

·      Read a feelings book

·      Discuss what feelings are and the different ones we have

·      Ask students to share feelings they have experienced that day or the previous day and how they know they were experiencing that emotion

·      Have each student choose an emotion

·      Create a general website for the feelings of your classroom

·      Tell students that they will be creating the pages on the website with information about their feeling

·      Explain to students that they will be creating drafts on paper before actually creating their webpage

·      Explain to students that they must include a short definition of their assigned emotion, a picture of themselves expressing their emotion, and a story or poem that expresses their emotion

·      Students will use class time to use computers to add their specific webpage to the class website

Closing Summary:

Once all students have completed the assignment, the teacher will set aside class time for presentation of the class website.  Each individual student will present their webpage briefly, including reading their written piece. 

Ongoing Assessment:

Students will add to their webpage throughout the year.  Each time a new way to show or express their particular emotion is learned, the students will incorporate them onto their webpage.  Example:  visual art. 

New Literacy Project Reflection!

1.) Conceptual Understanding
Literacy is a huge part of the classroom! I have always loved literacy and held it to huge importance but after doing this project and taking this class, I see how it connects even further inside and outside the classroom. When we were able to select a type of literacy I didn't think it was actually "applying" to what I already knew. Emotional Literacy I thought would be about something a bit different than I thought but I was surprised and happy to see I knew somewhat about it! That made me feel like I was taking something about from my education and my experience in my field placement. Choosing a technology I thought was fun and educational! I think technology is very important to use in the classroom. I was always iffy about it because from taking a technology class before, I heard many school even Elementary grades were switching to just online education. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard that was was scared and disappointed. I started to not agree with technology and wanted to apply my thinking to made a personal difference in the classroom. After picking weebly and exploring other colleagues options I found that this type of technology and how we thought about using it was appropriate and helpful for a classroom. The weebly was fun to use and allowed me to select main areas of Emotional Literacy to focus my thinking on. I was able to define it, think of its importance, design lesson plans, and provide helpful strategies for other colleagues! The weebly I think is a great way to connect to other teachers and make a profile/portfolio that you will always have! I am now aware of how Emotional Literacy effects the classroom and especially children. It was amazing to do research and see how it effects children outside of school. That is part of our job to stop and think about outside life and how we want to help children grow outside the classroom as well. I can see from my old post on Feb 27th that I have a different opinion that is more knowledgeable about technology and the different literacy out there. I believe I thought of literacy in a general way before doing this project. I thought of it being one thing "reading and writing" compared to WHAT concepts it holds such as emotional, environmental, cultural etc. I knew these were seen in books and important but now see how they are all separate forms of literacy....but also how they COME TOGETHER! I love that part about literacy...that everything effects one another and connects and make huge meaning to a child's education. I believe I started having a simple focus and now have a more open and educated mind at how literacy is important,  what different forms it takes on, and how it can be used not just through reading and writing but extending all over the classroom!

2.) Effective Literacy Instruction
"Effective Literacy Instruction" I believe means to plan out, think, and prepared what is important! Effective means in my eyes to make a difference. Therefore, through planning literacy it is important to make it meaningful through HOW you teach it. Teachers need to plan out how to explain the literacy being taught-thinking about vocabulary to define, and ways to make the literacy topic connect to actual life experiences. Looking at my concept map now, it seems so simple and not exactly thought out. I believe I could add so more much meaning to it now and prepare a lesson plan on Emotional Literacy that is effective! When looking over my lesson plan my grade level expectations were :
R.NT.01.05
respond to individual and multiple texts by finding evidence, discussing, illustrating, and/or writing to reflect, make connections, take a position, and/or show understanding.  R.CM.01.03 compare and contrast relationships among characters, events, and key ideas within and across texts to create a deeper understanding by mapping story elements, graphically representing key ideas and details, and asking questions as they read.
 
These expectations can be thought about toward my literacy of Emotional Literacy and then applied to technology use. I am able to see how children can make a deeper connection and relate to the text. Their emotions, experiences and every day life can be added into this lesson and only help make the text that more meaningful. When looking at K-8 learners for learning about Emotional Literacy and using a weebly, they would need to think about different aspects.
Reading-Children would need to understand the text and be at the books grade level to comprehend what they are reading. Emotional literacy comes in many forms of books therefore it could be provided through simple pictures for younger grades and have more text for higher grades.
Writing-Children would need to make a personal connection. Depending on the grade writing/ideas can be expressed through pictures or words. Emotional Literacy would be a fun activity to write about and allow children to create an imagine of what emotion they would identify with and reflect (deeper thinking) on when they felt that way and why!
Speaking-Children would need to be able to express specific emotions and say why they feel that way. Students would need to be able to connect it to exactly how they're feeling and make sense of it. "I feel ____ when you ____." "I feel frustrated when I can't zip my coat." etc.
Listening & Viewing- Listening and viewing are key for Emotional Literacy. It is important to understand how a personal feels or why a text has that connection with someone. This allows them to think about why that emotion happens and apply it to their reaction, a peers/adults, or the text as a whole.
From using the weebly children would need a model or example of that digital literacy. They would need to be familiar with the Internet, photo using, web sources, and how to combine them all together. Based on my field experience my age group of 1st graders would need direct instructions and slowly be exposed to the different types of technology it incorporates. By slowing infusing the different technology it would give children more a variety and more meaningful lessons.

3.) Lesson Plan
Topic and Technology/ Emotional Literacy using Weebly
Target area & Rationale: Emotional Literacy is about understanding, expressing, and recognizing ones own emotions. This would be beneficial to children because it allows them to self-regulate and understand who they're as an individual and gain self-esteem. While learning about Emotional Literacy they can learn about technology and how to express themselves using that type of technology. A weebly would be beneficial because they would be able to explore different parts of Emotional Literacy and also use different ways to show they understand them, such as: pictures, Internet research and photos, slide shows, you tube videos, etc. There skills will be strengthened and increase into higher development and deeper thinking.
Objective: Students will learn about positive and negative emotions by selecting the emotion they feel today and choosing a emotion that reflects opposite characteristics to write personal experiences on. The students will use weebly to present the information.
Materials needed:
-sheet to brainstorm
-computer
-Internet
-weebly
-accessible classroom photos
-The Way I Feel book
-The Way I Feel Today board
Outline of Key Events:
-Before the lesson begins hold a discussion on emotions/Emotional Literacy. Explain what it is, define vocabulary terms, talk about other words children are unfamiliar with that express emotions. Explain the difference between positive and negative emotions-make sure to say its OK to feel negative emotions and we ALL feel them.
-Allow children to discuss times they felt certain emotions you bring up. Make all children feel included and supported by asking if other children have felt that same emotion or through a similar experience.
-Tell/Explain to students what a weebly is. Show an explain of your personal weebly and how you completed the task your asking of them. Relate the weebly to the text/Emotional Literacy that will be taking place that day.
-Read the book: The Way I Feel to introduce emotions! (Stimulate discussion through the book) Use an Elmo to read the story.
-Have children come up by tables and choose the emotion they are feeling today. (These emotions should be more complex than happy, sad, mad, etc.) Such as: Frustrated, Excited, Proud, Bored...have them think about that emotion. They can move their name tag under the emotion they feel that day.
-Pull the weebly back up and show how it represents similar features the book does. Explain how it can be used like a journal or informative journal for your personal self and other students in the class to view.
Closing Summary:
-Create an open discussion about the board! Have children say what they picked that feeling.
-Go back and talk about positive and negative emotions (compare and contrast) write these examples on the smart board. Then have children look at the emotion they picked and choose an opposite emotion they have felt before.
On-Going Assessment:
-Exposed different aspect of weebly each day. First have the children make a page on the two opposite emotions (introduce boxes to write about those feelings and show them how to add pictures from the Internet).
-Show how to add videos
-Take classroom pictures of children showing emotions on their face, show them how to upload from the computer and put on their weebly page.
(Etc. slowly add in different elements of the weebly. Children won't feel overwhelmed and all be on the same page in terms of understanding the technology.)
*The emotions board will always be up throughout the day. During an appropriate time students can move their name to a different emotion-they will then be able to say why if you or another child notice and also this build self-confidence to feeling comfortable expressing how your emotions change. (Change up the board to different emotions weekly).

New Literacy Project Reflection

1) YOUR CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:

My conceptual understanding of literacy in the beginning of the class was limited to the idea that it was one’s ability to read, write, and speak. I associated one’s who were literate as being able to read and comprehend what they were reading, write effectively and get their message across effectively through speech, and most commonly associated with Language Arts. This is not to say that literacy is not all of these things but I have learned that it is much more. I have learned that literacy is not only Language Arts but it is Math, Science, and Social Studies and that we can teach literacy in all of these subjects not just solely Language Arts. Before doing this project I really had no idea that there were many different forms of literacy and the area of Emotional Literacy really interested me. I wanted to find out more about Emotional Literacy because being in touch with ones feelings and understanding others can strengthen your learning across the board. Exploring this area of literacy has really informed my thinking that literacy is all around us and can be integrated into every subject in many ways. Also my development of digital literacy has grown throughout this project and I have found effective ways to integrate digital literacy into the classroom while simultaneously teaching another type of literacy. Throughout this project I have found the importance of Emotional Literacy and the foundation it sets for students to better their learning and awareness of themselves and others. It is so important that students learn this type of literacy at a young age so they can appropriately manage their emotions and deal with others emotions as well. I have found that if you implement Emotional Literacy early on students can then get down to the academic aspects of literacies without having to deal with the emotional hardships one might encounter because they would know how to effectively cope with them. This new literacy is very different from traditional literacies because it really focuses on the student and their emotions rather than the academic aspects of literacy. If a student cannot effectively deal with their emotions then they might not be able to effectively learn and comprehend the academic aspects of literacy.

2) EFFECTIVE LITERACY INSTRUCTION:

To provide effective literacy instruction to diverse learners means one uses different strategies and resources to help implement the goal and to cater to everyone’s needs and as well as strengths. Everyone learns in different ways and at different speeds and needs different instruction to learn the information provided and it is the teachers’ obligation to provide students with these opportunities so they can effectively learn literacy. Using visual aids, hands-on activities or different methods can help effectively teach literacy and provide for stronger learning among all individuals. My research on my new literacy has informed me how important it is for students to be in touch with their emotions and effectively deal with them and has shown me that everyone deals with their emotions in different ways. My development of my digital literacy, a Weebly website has also taught me that students can learn on many different mediums to provide effectively literacy instruction. As teachers in the 21^st century it is important that we provide students with the opportunity to explore digital literacies and learn through new mediums of technology.

The implications for me, as a future teacher in doing a similar project with my Kindergarteners would be to evaluate my students on their knowledge of Emotional Literacy and also figure out how to effectively integrate a website or some sort of technology into the project. To teach Emotional Literacy and the use of digital literacies, my students would need to be able to first and foremost understand what an emotion is. My students would need to understand that emotions are feelings we have and they change daily depending on certain situations and we can handle our emotions in different ways. For the use of digital literacies I would could use a Weebly like in my project and present my students with different types of emotions and have them figure out what emotion is it and also possibly use the digital literacy of a video, like on youtube, about emotions or a story about emotions. My students are already very in touch with their emotions but often times have trouble expressing them in appropriate ways and I could help them find better coping mechanisms and use skits or situations to help them show how one would handle certain situations and emotions. My students could also use the digital literacy of video making and make a video expressing different emotion which would be a fun acitivty for students, especially at this young age. Teaching my students about Emotional Literacy would be perfect to start in Kindergarten or even earlier because the earlier it is taught the better and it would be easy to integrate a digital literacy like I had mentioned before.

3) LESSON PLAN:

Lesson Topic/Title: Emotional Literacy using Weebly

Target area and rationale: Learning about Emotional Literacy while making a website like Weebly is beneficial to students because they will gain insight on how to appropriately handle their emotions as well as deal with others emotions and learn about emotions while making a Weebly. Emotional Literacy is very important to begin at a young age so students can continue to build on their skills of handling emotions as they grow older. It is important for students to learn about different types of literacies and using a website like Weebly will strengthen their skills in Digital Literacy while also strengthening their skill in Emotional Literacy.

Objective: Students will choose an emotion and act and demonstrate how to appropriately handle a situation where this emotion may arise and explain the emotion using Weebly to present their information.

List the materials and supplies needed:

• · Computer

• · Internet

• · Smartboard

• · Weebly

• · Feelings Chart with Velcro spots for students to put name tags on

• · My Feelings Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_NLAT-n3ko

Outline of key events:

• · Have a discussion on what an emotion is and the types of emotions one can have

• · Discuss situations where one might have difficulty expressing their emotions; got into a fight with a friend, and how to appropriately handle their emotions as well as act on others emotions appropriately

• · Explain to students what Emotional Literacy is; the ability to recognize, understand and appropriately express our emotions and that it is important that we all learn about emotions and the ways to handle certain situations so we can stay safe, happy and can be the best students we can possibly be!

• · Show them the Feelings Chart and explain how we can use this when we are having trouble trying to express ourselves. We can use this chart when we want to say how we feel but are having a hard time expressing it! Explain to them this chart will be up in the classroom and each day when they come into the classroom I want them to stick their name on the feeling they are feeling in the morning and when they leave school to change or leave their name on the feeling they are feeling then

• · Tell students we are going to make a website that we can all use and learn from that teaches everyone about emotions and Emotional Literacy

• · Assign two students with an emotion and explain to them they will need to think about what this emotion looks like and how one might act when they are feelings this way

• · Use the Smartboard to show the students the website and explain to them that each day we are going to add to this website a new emotion and have a student come up and present the emotion. Explain that when we talk about that emotion we will talk about situations that may arise and how to handle them appropriately

• · Choose two students to come up and begin working on the Weebly letting students pick the colors for their page and how they want it presented. Have a discussion with the class about that emotion

• · Assign the emotion for the next day with two other students

Closing summary:

• · After the first two students have gone pull up the My Feelings Song and teach the students the lyrics to the song

• · Perform the song using facial expressing and movements to mimic the feelings

Ongoing assessment:

• · Each day students in a group of two will present a new emotion using Weebly and the class will have a short discussion about that emotion of the day

• · Students will come in each day and put their name on the emotion they are feeling in the morning and change or keep that emotion at the end of the day. If there are changes in students emotions throughout the day then there can be discussion on how they handled their situation appropriately or not with the teacher