Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Jamey Flaccavento
August 9, 2015
Dr. Lily Steiner
EDL 515 OL
Advanced Literacy Instruction
Monmouth University
Department of Education
Table of Context
Part I: Contextual Features.3-6
Community.3
District4
School.5
Classroom/Students6
Part II: Best Practices for Literacy Instruction7-22
Grouping Methods.7-10
Assessment11-13
Independent Reading14-16
Comprehension Strategies17-19
High Quality Literature/Culture20-22
References..23
Self Evaluation..24
Flaccavento
!3
Flaccavento
!4
Flaccavento
!5
Flaccavento
!6
Flaccavento
!7
Flaccavento
students are able to benefit from the varying abilities in each center team (31-2). By using
Batess model for grouping, all the benefits of ability grouping mentioned above are achieved
while illuminating the restriction of time per group and allowing for collaboration and peerteaching amongst varying ability levels.
Description of Usage in Classroom/ Strengths and Weaknesses
Grouping was used often in Mrs. Browns classroom. This was especially true when all
three teachers were in the room together, allowing for each of us to work with a small group of
children. According to McCoach, OConnell and Levitt (2006), ability grouping proved
successful when groups were flexible and assigned based on various interest and different
content areas (343). This was one of Mrs. Browns strengths. The students were not kept in the
same group based on their overall academic achievement but were rather changed based on
content area and/or compression of the topic at hand. On certain occasions, some of the highest
achieving students struggled with a concept and in turn worked with a group of students who
also struggled with that concept despite general ability.
According to Bates (2013), a structured routine for centers and groups is essential to
successful implementation (32). This was a weakness in Mrs. Browns class overall. This was in
part due to the extreme variations of ability and behaviors in the class but could have been
mediated with more structure and rule based instruction. During small group activities students
would occasionally interrupt the teachers in other groups to ask questions or lose focus and not
complete tasks. If the center process was explained, modeled, practiced, and maintained
throughout the year (as Bates suggests), the process would be much more successful.
!8
Flaccavento
!9
Improvement Plan
My main suggestion for improvement of grouping to Mrs. Brown, and a caution to my
future teaching practices, stems from the weakness discussed previously. Structure and
expectations must remain constant while all else varies. With this, the tecnique would have more
successful effects.
Bates (2013) described an exceptional model for grouping and centers explained above.
In my future classroom I plan on using her model which has the teacher outside of the center
rotation and groups students both heterogeneously and homogeneously. Another practice I took
away from this article was that of team captains. Given the heterogenous nature of the center
groups, some students will innately become leaders. Having a daily team captain responsible for
hanging in the groups work as well as keeping them on task, helps foster [all] childrens sense
of autonomy (32).
Another practice noted by Bates that I would suggest to Mrs. Brown and plan on
practicing in my future classroom is, using tools such as developmental checklists and anecdotal
records(30). As it will be discussed in the assessment section, most assessment during center
time is done by teacher observation. By keeping simple lists teachers can keep track of student
skills in an organized and simple fashion. This also keep the teacher on track with what they are
looking for as well as simplifies group making.
How Students Benefit
All in all, students benefit from grouping in many ways. To start, it allows for more
focused and personalized instruction as well as more one-on-one time with the teacher. By
grouping based on ability, students are able to focus on what needs improvement rather than the
Flaccavento
!10
whole picture. By grouping heterogeneously, students can help one another improve and learn to
become leaders. With the correct implementation and dedicated planning, grouping students can
lead to great successes in literacy education.
Flaccavento
!11
Flaccavento
!12
Flaccavento
!13
standardized tests, some students consider themselves dumb if they cannot test well. By
incorporating multi-dimensional assessments into a classroom, students will realize that they can
express their knowledge in many different ways and in fact are not dumb because of their
testing abilities.
Flaccavento
!14
Flaccavento
!15
emotionally and even physically. At the lowest levels, the learner is barely aware of the task.
Without engagement, learning is difficult (313). In order to facilitate this engagement, the
authors suggest getting to know how each student interacts with text and apply motivation
strategies accordingly.
Description of Usage in Classroom/ Strengths and Weaknesses
According to Hall, Hedrick and Williams (2014), Teachers send a powerful message
when they intentionally fill their classrooms with books that match their students interests,
provide support to develop concentration skills, and schedule time to read and discuss
books (96). Mrs. Brown showed extreme strengths regarding most of this message. In the start
of the year, Mrs. Brown allowed students to get to know the classroom library by giving them a
chance to explore the books and then develop their own system of organizing the library. At one
point mid school year, a large amount of books were donated to the classroom. At this time, Mrs.
Brown took a break from the lesson and had students work together to sort the books. First she
had them decide wether they should be included in the library at all. Where they interesting?
Where they outdated? If a student believed a book would not be read it went in a pile and was
voted on by the class. Then the class worked together to organize the remaining books into their
existing library. The students loved doing this. They felt involved in building their classroom and
modeled it to their needs. In some instances, students held on to books for their individual
reading. Both activities were empowering and notable.
While Mrs. Brown provided time to read independently, had many comfortable areas and
chairs which rotated each day and allowed for head phones, much of this reading time was
dedicated to classroom assigned text. Given the above importance placed on choice, a weakness
Flaccavento
!16
here would be not allowing for independent choice reading. Students were always reading a book
chosen by themselves at appropriate levels (working towards book reports) however not much
time was allotted during class to read these. Another weakness noticed while researching this
strategy was the lack of discussion on books. Students truly enjoyed book report presentations
and usually ended up reading the books others explained, however there was no time to discuss
exciting parts, questions, or predictions along the way as Hall and colleagues suggested.
Improvement Plan
According to Kelley and Clausen-Grace (2009), two suggestions for facilitating engaged
independent reading are, build written or oral response into your independent reading
structure[and] model your love for reading by enthusiastically sharing what you are currently
reading, giving book-talks, and reading aloud (318). While Mrs. Brown had students keep a
reading log on book reports and present their final reactions to the class, it would be beneficial to
add discussion groups throughout the reading process. The later suggestion is one I must keep in
mind in my future classroom. I personally struggle with reading and rarely read for pleasure. As
a professional development goal I plan to read more in my spare time, even if it is books meant
for children, in order to model healthy reading practices to students.
How Students Benefit
All in all, students benefit from independent reading when it is executed properly in the
classroom. Students strive on the power of choice and are encouraged to become life long
readers. No one falls in love with reading while studying a text book. Independent reading in the
classroom gives students the change to involve themselves in text interesting and pertinent to
their lives that has potential of instilling a positive relationship with print.
Flaccavento
!17
Flaccavento
!18
background knowledge to make connections, (c) asking questions before, during, and after
reading, (d) making inferences during and after reading, (e) determining the most important ideas
or themes, (f) synthesizing information, and (g) using fix-up strategies when something doesn't
make sense (33). By actively explaining how and when to use these comprehension skills,
students begin to use them on their own and become better readers.
Description of Usage in Classroom/ Strengths and Weaknesses
Mrs. Brown used this strategy consistently and well throughout her instruction. There
was a poster on the wall representing What Good Readers Do and the strategies were
constantly explained, modeled, and implemented during group reading. Another strength
witnessed lies in Mrs. Browns ability to interpret students needs and change instruction in order
to accommodate them. This, however sometimes morphed into a weakness. As previously
explained, the structure of the classroom was rather loose. This allowed for the change in
instruction, which innately was good practice, to run overtime and interrupt the planned lessons.
Improvement Plan
As mentioned in other improvement plans, I would suggest a more rigid outline of the
lessons throughout the day. I have seen other teacher effectively use timers as to remind students,
as well as themselves, when to move on or get back on track. All classes will have strong
personalities with varying interests and it is wonderful to have students who want to talk about
what they are learning, however it must be limited in order to use class time efficiently.
In order to monitor this in my future classroom I plan on using a technique taught to me
by Dr. Bazler while studying for my masters and Monmouth University. For each lesson plan she
required a break down of activities based on five minute intervals. While this seems excessive, it
Flaccavento
!19
Flaccavento
!20
Flaccavento
!21
contest involving the rolling of pigs. When the readers cultural and texts cultural content are
mismatched, the reader constructs different meaning(242).
Description of Usage in Classroom/ Strengths and Weaknesses
According to Rupley, Dee Nichois and Blair (2008), multiethnic literature helps students
discover the intricacies of a language, as well as the peoples history and culture. In addition,
when students read literature they encounter a multitude of characters who are both similar to
and different from themselves (243). Mrs. Browns class was no stranger to ethnically diverse
literature. In one unit, four different stories were read aloud throughout the week all concerning
rights of passage between a father and son. Each story came from a different culture and
different time periods. Students made connections and noted differences but ultimately saw that,
although every culture is different, certain aspects of life and growing up remain the same
throughout the human race.
Rupley, Dee Nichois and Blair (2008), however, note the difference between low levels
and high levels of cultural integration in literacy instruction. Mrs. Browns classroom showed
some of the higher levels by using multicultural literature which incorporates cultural diversity
into the curriculum as a whole instead of as a separate entity. The weakness here stems from the
homogenous culture of Monmouth Beach rather than Mrs. Browns instruction. While learning
about different cultures is imperative, most of the students here only build relationships with
people of the same culture. Having a more diverse community would allow for the inter-cultural
relationships necessary to fully respect and understand other people.
Improvement Plan
Flaccavento
!22
According to Rupley, Dee Nichois and Blair (2008), providing classroom teachers with
the means to individualize their reading instruction for all children is neither easy nor well
understood (245). This is especially true regarding cultural differences. In order to do my best in
regards to this topic I plan on staying up to date on current research and attempting to integrate
cultures of all kinds into all parts of the curriculum. In regards to the weakness seen in
Monmouth Beach, I would consider having a pen pal program or volunteering in a place with
more diversity as a class. This way students can build the personal relationships necessary to
truly understand another culture and respect that we are all part of the human race.
Flaccavento
!23
References
Ankrum, J., Genest, M., & Belcastro, E. (2014). The Power of Verbal Scaffolding: "Showing"
Beginning Readers How to Use Reading Strategies. Early Childhood Education Journal, 23,
39-47.
Bates, C. (2013). Flexible Grouping During Literacy Centers: A Model for Differentiating
Instruction. Young Children, May 2013, 30-33.
Hall, K., Hedrick, W., & Williams, L. (2014). Every Day We're Shufflin': Empowering Students
During In-School Independent Reading. Childhood Education, March/April 2014, 91-98.
Kelley, M., & Clausen-Grace, N. (2009). Facilitating Engagement by Differentiating
Independent Reading. The Reading Teacher, 63(4), 313-318.
McCoach, D., O'Connell, A., & Levitt, H. (2006). Ability Grouping Across Kindergarten Using
an Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. The Journal of Educational Research, 99(6), 339-350.
Prado, L., & Ploudre, L. (2011). Increasing Reading Comprehension Through The Explicit
Teaching of Reading Strategies: Is There a Difference Among the Genders? Reading
Improvement, 32-43.
Pressley, M., & Allington, R. (2015). Reading Instruction the WorksL The Case for Balanced
Teaching (Fourth ed.). New York, New York: The Guilford Press.
Rupley, W., Dee Nichols, W., & Blair, T. (2008). Language and Culture in Literacy Instruction:
Where Have They Gone? The Teacher Educator, 43, 238-248.
Vogt, M., & Shearer, B. (2011). Reading Specialists and Literacy Coaches in the Real World
(Third ed.). Boston, Mass: Pearson.
Flaccavento
!24
Self Evaluation
Element
SelfAssessed
Score
Rational
Contextual
Factors
6/6
Best Practice 1
18/18
Best Practice 2
18/18
Best Practice 3
18/18
Best Practice 4
18/18
Best Practice 5
18/18
Submission
10/18