Week 7

My lesson plans can improve by considering transitions and time. I have it in my head that lesson plans need to be chalk full when really they need to be organized and attainable. One feedback I always get from my CT is transitioning the students from the floor to their seats. I cannot simply tell the kindergardeners to move, I have to dismiss them in an organized manner to prevent chaos. This can be done by dismissing them individually, groups of two or who is sitting the "kindergarten way". 

The readings were very helpful in regards to working with students with learning disabilities. It is not unlikely that I could teach in a school where reading specialists jobs have been cut and I will have to work with these children. One thing the Carlisle article made very clear is to do lots of different activities. Reading and writing can be done way outside of the box which can help all types of learners including those who have a learning disability. One suggestion  was to do dramatic re-enactments of the story. I think this is a great idea because it allows for the students to be creative while still showing comprehension. Also, this allows for students to ask any questions they may have regarding the plot, setting, sequence of events etc. Re-enacting the story forces students to think what came next and how the characters reacted. 

I loved reading the Applegate article on all the types of profiles in comprehension. I had a hard time classifying myself in one specific category, but I'm a lot like a quiz contestant. I search for the correct answer but it may sometimes not be related to the story. I think organizing my thoughts onto paper helps to keep me on track. I enjoyed looking at the chart and reading about the different types of interventions that can be used. This will be important to think about as teachers so that we can try to assess students in the most beneficial way.