Urgency...It's What We Need (Blog 2 - September)

Routman - Chapter 4 - Teaching with a Sense of Urgency

Wow, this chapter had a lot of great things intertwined within its pages. I really enjoyed reading about the Optimal Learning Model. It gave a great lay out and explanation to reading in the classroom. I feel that at times it is hard to release students to the independence level as it discusses. When we are demanded to get results and to teach certain and specific standards for a test that will be completely "in the box" thinking based, it is very hard for me to allow my students to take the lead. I do though feel that modeling and skill teaching is necessary for our demographic of students. The demonstrations and shared demonstrations part of this model may take longer in classrooms such as ours, but I believe it is important to still allow independent and choice reading as well. I really rely on grouping students and agree with the author when he says that students can help each other reach higher levels of reading. I think that specific grouping can help with the release of student independence in reading.

I also really enjoyed the sections about group reading and read alouds. I love sharing stories with my students. I find that it is one of the most enjoyable parts of my job as a teacher. It is relaxing. I think that doing this purposefully can still allow for a relaxed learning environment, while still "teaching with a sense of urgency." 

Reading and writing are obviously connected. I think that another great way of building relationships and sharing with students who you are as a person and not just their teacher is through creating your own text. This is something that we did during our first professional development class and I really enjoyed learning about Claire and where her passion for reading came from. I went directly back to my classroom and taught using the same method with my own story. My students were infatuated with the story and loved that I shared it with them. This made reading in my room a fun lesson for all levels of readers and it also sparked interest in them wanting to write and share about themselves as well.