A Note for Current Block II Students…
I know this semester seems overwhelming…and it is! But have NO FEAR! It can be done, and I promise you that once it’s done, you’ll be thankful for the experience…and I’ll give you one more tiny hint, you’re RIDICULOUSLY LUCKY to have Dr. Frye! She will MORE than prepare you for the Multi Text Unit at the end…it sounds like a lot, but I had a lot of fun doing it ( and I don’t exactly enjoy homework, as a rule). Please use what ever you want from this blog and if you have any questions, just ask me! I still use and check this blog, it’s a great resource that I’m glad Dr. Frye had us create. Use this medium well, and you will have a great tech edge.
One final note…going into student teaching I had no idea what to expect…remember in the last paragraph when I said that you’d be glad to experience this semester? Well, I meant it! The “big” unit in student teaching is basically another 3-5 day UOI…use your CI 4000′s teacher’s help now and student teaching will be much easier!
Please don’t hesitate to ask questions about RE 4030, Block II, Praxis II, or Student Teaching…education is about support and sharing. I’m very lucky to have the cohort I do and if there’s anything I can’t ask, I’ll be sure to enlist their help in finding you an answer!
Enjoy the chaos of this semseter, there is a pride in surviving it! BREATHE!
Precipitation I Poems
Please leave feedback for my little kiddies…they really worked hard and are proud of these wonderful poems!
Peter Update…
Hey guys…since we’ll be looking at each other’s Blog’s again to check out Multi Text Units I just wanted to say that i’ve started listening to Peter and the Shadow Thieves (book 2) on audiobook and it’s AMAZING!!! For any of you who haven’t listened to the Harry Potter Series or this series on audiobook- treat yourself…immediately! The same man (Jim Dale) reads both and he is without a doubt the best reader ever! His voices are soooo memorable.
I read once in time magazine that the Harry Potter series was the highest recommend audiobook, becuase of Jim Dale’s reading of it…and I must agree…plus, Leslie agrees with me too, so there!
Vocabulary and Morphology Article
This article contains a lot of important and great information on the connection between good vocabulary and good readers. Having an expansive vocabulary aids in the decoding of words. It also aids in the use of decoding strategies such as context clues, root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Vocabulary study is important because research shows that there are direct correlations between children who have a healthy vocabulary and their ability to read fluently and comprehend their text adequately.
Root words, prefixes, and suffixes are part of the study of Morphology. Morphology is very important when one is working on ways to broaden and fully establish a well rounded student vocabulary. By understanding the meanings and uses of root words, prefixes, and suffixes, students are able to decode words much more complex than they would be able to without these devices. Cognates are also very helpful, especially for ELL learners. Cognates are words that appear very similar (often are derivations of) in two (or more) languages. These strategies enable learners to dissect a word and extract it’s meaning (or a close simulation thereof).
Exposure to a “healthy diet” of reading materials is an incredibly simple and effective way to increase students (and adults!) vocabulary and help them to begin utlizing some of the tools you are imparting to them. Also Shared readings where these strategies are modeled by the teacher would be very helpful to get students used to looking at words and taking them apart this way to (hopefully 
) ascertain their meaning.
Peter & the Starcatchers…& Mr. Grin!
I have spoken about my initial reaction to this book in previous posts, but, again…initially, I was exasperated by this book. I don’t know why. Maybe my love for the original Peter Pan made me prejudice, or maybe I just wasn’t in a Peter Pan pirate mood… Now, having finished the book…I am sooooo loving it! I’m impatiently waiting for a spare moment to read the sequels. Series are so amazing…all books should have to be in a series!
I think the real turning point for me was Mr. Grin. (I love how Mr. Grin sounds in my ears!) What a GLORIOUS name…Mr. Grin…it just makes me happy! That whole section on what would become “Neverland” really drew me in. What was great was that I knew the story of Peter Pan, so I knew what each character would become and where they’re going! I felt like an “insider” reading this story. I knew who characters were before they were named (obviously, it’s because I’m a psychic genius!). Another tid bit of personal feeling I would like to share is that I was sooooooo waiting (as soon as Mr. Grin was introduced) for Hook/ Black Stache’s hand to come off! I was anticipating it with excitement that borders on creepiness. And what about that ticking clock? When does that come in, because that was one of my favorite things about Peter Pan. Why am I going to read the other books, because I have to, that’s why! That was both a brilliant and low-down move on Barry and Pearson’s part. Now I’m “hooked” and I have no choice….Sneaky little devils.
If I felt knowledgeable and empowered by reading this book, I KNOW students will. Aside from the obvious pirate information (like ship vocabulary, traditional pirate jobs, ect.) this book was fascinating because of all the complex literary issues. Multiple perspectives, characters who have different names from the ones we know, and fast paced action sequences make this book more difficult to follow than many of the texts children would be exposed to (I always get lost in action sequences). The writing, however, eases that burden and exposes children to a complexity of thinking and writing that is important and invaluable.
So, in closing, Mr.Grin, Mr. Grin, Mr. Grin, Mr. Grin, Mr. Grin 
Mr. Grin
Vocabulary Instruction
Again with the wow! I knew vocabulary was important, but I had no idea how in depth and meaty the concept was. The way I learned how to speak and write was through reading. The books I read exposed me to vocabulary I wouldn’t normally be exposed to in everyday conversation, but I suppose the understanding I have of the vocabulary is generally limited, and vague at best. Perhaps if the teachers that I had in elementary school had understood the complexity and importance of rich vocabulary study, I’d be more eloquent and well spoken. I had no concept of the fact that I was only skimming the surface of what most words mean, or how I could use them.
Words are amazing…they’re fun! It’s so exciting to learn a new word and add it into your vocabulary! I know as an adult, it excites me to learn new words, so children must feel like they’re discovering uncharted waters. As teachers, why don’t we use that motivation to expand our children’s verbal repertoire? Knowing too many words is NEVER a problem!
Also, I love the text structure strategies. As we’ve been using some of them in class, i’ve really noticed how important pointing text out to children is. I’ve also noticed just how far a shared reading can move a child forward! When I see these things practiced in front of me, they seem so obvious, but i’ve never seen any other teacher apply any of these strategies…it’s such a shame. We’ll break the trend!
My biggest hope is that I can grasp all of the vocabulary study information we’ve been given…my biggest fear is that i’m going to screw this up.
Shared Readings
Well, hmmm…I’m not quite finished digesting all of this yet. I guess it’s like last semester after we finished our Reading class and I thought, “Wow, There must be really great teachers out there…wonder if I’ll be able to be one of them?” Reading is a number one priority for me, in my life, as well as in my teaching, so I want to be well versed and well informed. Shared readings are a great tool, and, after having seen one last week, I can see how wonderful it can be. When Dr. Frye did it, it was effortless, but I could definitely see that there is A LOT going on behind everything she said and did. I would like to know a little more about the text one should use in shared readings.
I know this post is a week late, but I must admit that last week, I didn’t know what to say. Now that I’ve seen it in action, I feel like I have more ownership over the concept. I have more confidence is my knowledge and ability to speak about it.
I’m trying not to get overwhelmed right now. I’m trying to remember that it’s ok not to be good at any of this. I’m trying to remeber that great teachers practice great teaching, they don’t just wake up and are great teachers. I’m trying to remeber that I can try these things and change each day in my own classroom until it feels right. I’m trying…
Jake Carpenter & Met A Pirate & Multi-Text Unit
Both of these books are really fun, especially from the point of view of kids! I really like how they compliment “Starcatchers” and “NSJR” without overly repeating the same things. I think that’s something I want to remember for my own multi-text study: Books must compliment, but not imitate, each other!
The Internet workshops are really cool. Man, as an adult they’re a lot of work to do, so I can just imagine the work kids put into them! Also, if I’m working this hard to do it, I can’t imagine how much work you put into creating it, Dr. Frye. That’s a little intimidating to me, since I have to create an internet workshop in, what, a week or two…still not sure when the multi -text assignment is due, maybe we have longer than that.
The point is, convoluted though I may have made it, I really think that this is a wonderful way to integrate subject, medias, and research. Kids will really respond to it, and I think it’s my duty to try and learn how to create something like this to the best of my ability. Lots of the things that we’ve learned in the last 2 and a half years have been wonderful, but seem completely undo-able, or at least are more work than they’re worth in the real world. This multi-text unit feels authentic and appropriate. Best of all, it feels safe for all levels of students because the books range in level and purpose.
I’ve actually had a dilemma latley over this assignment becasue I wanted to find a way to coordinate it with my UOI. My theme is Weather. I know that the likelyhood of me getting to do this in a 2nd grade class this semester is rather non-existent, but, Does anyone have suggestions for good novels, books, ect. on Weather? I’d like to have as many theme options as possible in my repetoire and Weather was one that really stumped me as far as novels…fatual books won’t be as hard. Can Science be woven as easily as Social Studies into Multi-text units? Please help if you can !?!
