BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE LITERACY

TEACHER

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• What do I know about the LEARNER?

• How do these understandings IMPACT TEACHING AND LEARNING?

8 PRINCIPLES

8 PRINCIPLES TO SUCCESSFUL LITERACY INSTRUCTION

PRINCIPLE 1

Effective Teachers Appreciate the Uniqueness of Young Adolescents

THINK:What characteristics need to be considered when teaching the adolescent student?

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

• Growth spurts• Physical Growth• Nutrition• Sleep habits

• Puberty• Physical changes (i.e. Voice, facial hair, etc.)• Cause self-consciousness

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• Peer Groups• High sensitivity • Same-sex friendships flourish – for emotional support

• Search for Identity-• who am I? Where am I going?

• Social Justice• what’s “fair”• New awareness of social issues (homelessness, the

environment, etc.)

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

• Reasoning Ability• -shift from concrete thinking (the apple is red) to abstract

reasoning (How many apples would fit in the basket on the shelf?)

• Metacognition – • become more reflective and begin to monitor their own

learning

• Intellectual Curiosity – • Become inquisitive and interested in real-life situations

that are relevant to them

WHAT ARE THE INSTRUCTIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THESE DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES?

INSTRUCTIONAL IMPLICATIONS

•Active Learning – Keep ‘ em moving• Social Interactions – Collaboration!•Authentic Activities-”Real” experiences• Strategy Instruction-”tool box”• Individualization – Differentiate • Inquiry Learning-Problem Solving

TRY THIS:

• Using what you now know about adolescents and the way they see the world, design a small lesson with your group based on the Principles discussed.• Use at least 3- Instructional Implications as you

create your Mini-lesson.• Be sure to include :• Learning Objective• Materials• Activities• Assessment

HERE IS YOUR TOPIC CHOICES:

• Word Building• Vocabulary• Geometry• Measurement• Conflict Resolution

PRINCIPLE 2:

Effective Teachers Understand how Children Learn

STUDENT CENTERED VS. TEACHER CENTERED

Student -Centered Teacher – CenteredConstructivism Behaviorism

Sociolinguistics

Information Processing

PRINCIPLE 3:

Effective Teachers Create a Nurturing Classroom Culture

For successful literacy instruction......how is my classroom organized?....how is my classroom managed?....how is my classroom climate and community established?

ACTIVITY:

• Ideal Classroom Sketch• Article – Questions 1-3• Physical space• Management plan• Starting each day

• Revise Sketch• Climate?

PRINCIPLE 4:

Effective Teachers adopt a Balanced Approach to Instruction

BALANCED LITERACY APPROACH

• Reading Literature• Reading Nonfiction• New Literacies (information technology)• Literacy Strategies and Skills• Oral Language• Vocabulary• Comprehension• Writing • Spelling

Literacy in the Middle Grades: Teaching Reading and Writing to Fourth through Eighth Grades. Gail E. Tompkins, 2010.

PRINCIPLE 5:

Effective Teachers Scaffold Students’ Reading and Writing

HOW DO WE DO ALL OF THIS?READING WORKSHOP MODEL

Scaffold Approach using a Variety of Authentic Materials and Direct Strategy Instruction

Modeled

Shared

Guided

Independent

PRINCIPLE 6:

Effective Teachers Organize for Literacy Instruction

PRINCIPLE 7:

Effective Teachers Differentiate Instruction

PRINCIPLE 8:

Effective Teachers Link Instruction and Assessment