Slowly But Surely Moving Forward

Week two of classes are now over and we've had more chances to talk about this Content Literacy thing. We read the first two chapters of our class textbook called Do I Really Have to Teach Reading? Content Comprehension, Grades 6-12 and listened to this podcast to help develop our understanding. As we discuss and research this idea, I'm trying to come up with my own working definition. Currently it goes something like this:

"Content Literacy - the ability of someone to interact with and use strategies to interpret the content of some subject (in its own language) including being able to speak, listen to, read, and write in that language"

So... With that in mind, how should that change the way that I will teach in the future and how I prepare to teach my students? I think that, first of all, it propels me to be literate in both of my choice content areas of math and science. I should be able to read a math or science textbook with some level of ease. And if I cannot? Then I will be working from the perspective of my future students. They will encounter difficulties while reading these textbooks and I will encourage them to use strategies to help them to build an understanding of the books and content.

As my teacher said, "You don't read a textbook like you would a fairytale. That is, from cover to cover."I don't think that I've ever thought about reading textbooks differently than reading any other book. Being a "good student" I generally do all readings assigned including any boxes on the sides of pages. I never thought about there being a different way to read it, but I'm excited to explore those possibilities.

In the podcast mentioned above, a teacher spoke about being chosen as a Presidential award winner for her teaching of first and third graders. I found myself being slightly cynical when she was talking about having her first graders type up notes on technology and almost kicked myself. I'm supposed to be a new teacher! I of all people should be optimistic about teaching kids and all of the things that students are capable of! Why wouldn't first grade students be able to use technology in this way? It has shown me a part of myself that may tend toward cynicism which I will have to actively work against as I grow and learn as a teacher. My students are capable of so much! They just need someone to guide them as they learn, and what a blessing to be one of the people who gets to guide them!

{Sassy}