Jen Stover

The Literacy Big Picture in Your Classroom

Teachers are always struggling with ways to take new information, ideas, research and make it instantly applicable to the students they teach. They have an idea of the "big picture", but the pieces to get there may be unclear.

I have a suggestions and ideas facing through my mind, in relation to creating a learning experience that students would WANT to be a part of.  I hope it is an experience that all teachers would want to create as a part of their literacy "big picture."

The experience I have in mind makes learning authentic.  A situation where teachers take the curriculum they already teach and make a few adaptations in the structure of their schedule or the framing of their classroom discussions.

The "Literacy big picture" looks like this:

Large group time (30+minutes) with text reading and discussion based on the Four Roles/Resources Model (developed by Luke and Freebody):

• teaching our kids how to approach text based on genre and topic and purpose of text.  
• Students will create connections, build relationships with the text, and learn how to navigate through a variety of texts independently.

Additional large group instruction in word work and language structure (approx.15 minutes) with a program that is consistent and concise throughout the school/system (one example I support and believe in, Fountas and Pinnell):

• structured lessons in a scope and sequence that support the understanding of language structure. 

Small group time (similar to guided reading)  - (15 minutes per group):

• every child, every day is involved in a small group with text that is slighly challenging.  Teacher spends time listening to each reader and differentiating lessons based on children's instructional needs.

  Many classrooms follow this type of structure or schedule.

So WHY am I making such a big deal out of this?

It's time for us to rethink the activities in our classrooms, beyond the amount of minutes we teach or which curriculum we adopt.   Think beyond the large group, small group, individual groupings of kids....

It IS about:

• teaching literacy beyond what the textbook says. Literacy goes way beyond understanding books. There's online literacy, math literacy, science literacy, image literacy, on and on. 
• creating an experience where students feel personally connected to what they are reading or learning about.
• look beyond the surface to really understand what the author's message is about and why it was written.
• students understanding WHY they learn what they learn. 
• taking what we already do good and make it great!

I would love to have a discussion about these topics!  Please email me!

image on flickr by wesley fryer

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The Learner Must Unwrap Their Own Gift

My head is just spinning!!  Spinning, spinning, spinning.....

I am so excited to tell you about the day of learning I had on Monday, June 22nd. 

Spent the day as a presenter at the 8th Annual Maiers Educational Institute, left a changed learner.

It's a gift someone else could have not unwrapped for me, I had to persevere to get the goods.

There is something very magical about 200 and some teachers, media specialists, administrators, business leaders being in the same room for one purpose: working together to make the educational system stronger and more efficient for the success of our children!

The day was led by Angela Maiers, my friend and colleague.  She made a case as well as a plea that all educators dedicate themselves to the betterment of each and every student they touch, by way of using the latest in research related to meeting the needs of our students.  The trainings and breakout sessions called for teachers and administrators to create an educational experience that captivates and acknowledges every student's talent, as well as their weaknesses. 

We focused on helping students understand the habits and attitudes necessary to be successful in today's world, as well as tomorrow.  We also talked about the importance of being a global learner (and TEACHER) by building a personal learning network, not just online but face to face.  We shared ways to become a fervent educational researcher and collaborator by utilizing the web as an up to date way to gather information.  And, we discussed how to help our students spread their message and voice to the world, using technology as a tool, not as a toy.......whew, I could go on and on...there was so much more.

Every time I gather with teachers for this reason, whether it be in a workshop such as this, or even in a classroomw with one or two teachers having coffee, I am compelled by their commitment to their kids, and I can't help but think...."How can I make the process of utilizing this research in the classroom much easier and time-efficient?"  What is my place in all of this?

Angela mentioned in her keynote how everyday she wakes up, turns on her computer, and is absolutely blown-away by new information she receives through her PLN and the research she follows.  After following her lead (and Mike Sansone's brilliance), building my own PLN via RSS feeds and twitter,  I SEE IT happening for myself now.  I SEE how important this is for my professional development, and for the development of the teachers and preservice teachers I serve.  I am giddy with glee as I turn on my laptop and watch my firefox tabs explode in the morning!!

My ultimate goal and mission is this.....I love teaching my own classroom of kiddos, but now I see my place unfolding before my eyes.....I have the opportunity to impact more lives of children if I support their teachers than I can if I am only in one room with my 30 kids, and I am excited about the possibilities ahead. 

I have SO MUCH to learn about this job, but can't wait for the learning adventure!

The Habitudes of curiosity, imagination, adaptability, courage, self awareness and perseverance are absolutely critical for you to find your calling.  I have experienced this first hand, in my own learning experiences over the past weeks.  We must teach our kids this, not by adding another curriculum to what you already do, but by integrating these skills into our everyday lessons, conversations, interactions, problem solving arguments, learning to tie our shoes, wipe little noes, etc....these kinds of habits and attitudes are everywhere, everyday.

So, a big learning day for many......a life changing experience for myself.  What more can one teacher ask for?

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