Bridging English Chapter 1 Reflection

Invitation to Reflection 1-4 (page 7)

1.      I would choose option (b) where the desks are along the outside of the classroom and the teacher is up front and in the center.

2.      I choose this option because it reminded me of my tenth grade English classroom experience and I really liked the set up. I do not like circles but this embodies the idea that the circle has in that the students and the teacher can have class discussions that are student led. The set up implies that the teacher is still leading the classroom, but it also allows for the teacher to step back and let the students work on their own/together. I think that the students and the teacher could be physically active, intellectually active and engaged equally if the teacher uses the advantages the set-up gives.

3.      The configuration I choose (b) would make me most comfortable as the teacher and it is the one I preferred as a student.

4.      I see myself as walking about the room and as characteristically sitting in a comfy chair or stool during discussions. My Spanish teacher always had this high chair with a back she always used in discussions and I thought it was a great idea. To me it said that the teacher was open to just having a conversation with the class.

5.      My second choice would probably be option (c) the circle. I really love discussing books and things of similar importance so the circle really allows for a discussion to take place. In the circle I would be sitting a student desk.

6.      I really want to have a lot of open discussions in my classroom because I think when students are able to share their ideas about a book it really shows the other students that not everyone sees something the same way. It opens your eyes to different perspectives and I think it can create healthy debates in the classroom too. So, no my class design wouldn’t change because all of the examples given of material to teach could incorporate class discussions.

7.      Student centered to teacher centered continuum of seating arrangements: e,c,b,d,a

 

“How to Bring our Schools out of the 20^th Century” Article Response

 I agree with the article and I think education could be affected if the government changed a few things in the education system. By this I am referring to testing and the curriculum. How can we make lessons more in-depth when the schools push teachers to cover so much content for the tests? Why isn’t the U.S. seeing the differences in how successful schools are being taught overseas and how U.S. schools are? Also, does this mean that to be a good teacher I need to learn a second language?

 

To include in the English Curriculum based off the article:

-sharing of current event articles maybe as freewrite prompts or to use when modeling

-more creative projects to encourage innovative thinking

-connect to other disciplines (show English is authentic)

-incorporate technology

-work in groups

-use UbD to make better lessons that use more in-depth/meaningful coverage of a topic

-when doing research projects, go over tips on how to make sure their sources are good sources