Are You Ready to be Effective Educators of Reading?
Super Teacher Special Powers = Quality Literacy Instruction
Reminder: Make sure you click on all the blue text links and graphics to get the most out of your visit. They are links packed with information, resources, services, and recommendations all endorsed by Phyllis Ferguson to support YOU, the Super Teacher.
The goal of literacy instruction is not only to create able readers and writers, but to challenge, encourage, and enable all students to grow in independence, intellect, creativity, leadership, and compassion, and to realize their capacity to enrich the communities in which they live, work, and play. This takes:
Knowing what literacy is…
Knowing how to develop it…
Knowing your students…
Let’s begin with... What is Literacy?
Literacy learners have two roles in the process of becoming literate, contributing citizens.
The roles are:
Gainers of Knowledge and Communicators of Knowledge
These roles are mastered as learners move from a “ME” centered awareness and developmental stage to a “WE” centered understanding as functioning members of society.
They are able to gain from and contribute to society, in other words they become independent learners and languagers.
As shown in the following model, the two major influences of this process are:
Modeling and Emulation
Teachers intentionally model the Gaining and Communicating processes and students Emulate those excellent models, just as they do in learning to speak.
Immersion
Learners participate in the modeling process as they are immersed in language, information, and the excitement of learning through:
Listening
Read to
Write to
Viewing
Comprehension instruction begins with listening as bridges are built to making meaning, supports are provided and fluency becomes the accepted norm.
In response to Gordon Wells' (1987), in his longitudinal study of what creates a literate child, which confirms that being read to and listened to are two primary predictors of student success, teachers become models of effective and meaningful literacy.
Demonstration
Teachers demonstrate the process of literacy learning and application of that process through Reading with,Writing with Learning with students during:
Blockage busting, comprehension strategies, phonemic awareness, phonics and word analysis skills are intentionally taught within these meaningful, purposeful and engaging activities.
Approximation
Emulation takes place as the learner approximates based on the immersion and demonstration.
Students are given the freedom to “make meaning” and “give it a go” as they develop into Gainers and Communicators.
Students are surrounded by “risk supported” environment, while they participate in:
Guided reading
Guided writing
Supportive reading
Purposeful use of skills hones the techniques they need for independence and to become effective both in gaining and communicating.
Students fully utilize their learning capacity, because they are not paralyzed by fear.
They are given the freedom, responsibility, encouragement and structure within which “mistakes are milestones, not millstones” to be tied around their necks and thrown overboard.
Employment
As students gain skill and confidence, employment takes place. Integrated units provide "real" reasons to practice. We know that practice makes, not perfect, but prepared.
This means lots of:
Independent Writing
Meaningful Reading Practice
Purposeful Speaking
Active Listening
Visual Literacy Opportunities
Production/Publication/Performance
Employment or use is engaging when students participate in integrated involvement with meaningful content.
Appropriately leveled new texts provide challenges while rereading familiar books boosts fluency.
This literacy development model takes place in an atmosphere where responsibility is gradually turned over to the child and support of the teacher is gradually withdrawn as independence is reached. The expectation that all children will and can learn is communicated through all sorts of oral and written feedback; including nagiting, running records, rubrics, checklists and conferences.
Since our task is to produce able readers, writers, speakers, listeners and thinkers, we must set our feet on the path that will create Gainers and Communicators of Knowledge.
We have the privilege to challenge, encourage, and enable all students to grow in independence, intellect, creativity, leadership, and compassion, and to realize their capacity to enrich the communities in which they live, work, and play through literacy.
How do YOU implement the 5 Pillars of Reading in your classroom?
With the No Child Left Behind(NCLB) requirements looming over our literacy instruction, time after time I have teachers ask me, "Phyllis, how do I fit it all in, raise achievement, plan effectively, and assess every child's progress?"
In answer to this quandary, Save-the-Teacher.com is sponsoring an All-Inclusive Institute:
The Ultimate 5+ Pillars "How to Guide," bound with joy and laughter!
This 3-Day Intensive Literacy Institute will prepare you to implement the 5 Pillars + Oral Language and Motivation, optimizing your literacy instruction and satisfying NCLB requirements. You will leave refreshed and renewed; armed with organizational templates, "Make n' Take" games and materials, song, literature and movement resources and a rejuvenation of your spirit and voice.
You won’t want to miss this! We are offering vacation packages including housing, 2-meals daily and tickets to Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Plus the option to bring your spouse and experience all that Ashland, Oregon has to offer while earning Professional Development Credits and receiving one-on-one personal coaching from Phyllis Ferguson.
Also look for more information at the Oregon Reading Association 2008 Annual Conference February 8 and 9, 2008 in Portland, Oregon. Phyllis will be presenting two small group sessions. Come visit the Save-the-Teacher exhibitor booth to Meet n' Greet with Phyllis and receive an Early Bird Registration Special. Hope to see you there.
We appreciate your patience as we build this site to best serve you. We are working hard to bring more information about Quality Literacy Instruction including; guided reading, shared reading, pared reading, etc.
Sign up for our FREE Newsletter, Super Teacher Times, to receive Articles, Practical Pointers, Free Thematic Units, Book Reviews, Research in Review, What's New at Save-the-Teacher.com and Phyllis' wacky classroom antics.
Or if you have any questions or comments contact us at Ask Phyllis. All feedback is appreciated.
Thank you for visiting. Please come back soon and bring a friend!
