Blog Post 1 August:  Donna Farmer’s Miller’s Section 1 Not This

Time.  There never seems to be enough, unless it is something we really want to do.  Prioritizing what is most important to us enables us to make the time necessary to accomplish things in life.  This same prioritizing is essential in educating our students. 

Reading is fundamental to success.  Period.  One must learn to read in order to make sense of life.  Teaching reading takes skill and is a combination of learned skills and the ability to practice those learned skills. 

In the article “Not This” by Debbie Miller, she illustrates the importance of practicing reading to learn how to read.  This practice must be framed by instruction in order for it to be productive.

After reading this chapter, I wonder about one of my reading practices in my classroom.  I am guilty of allowing students time to read without conferencing.  There is a time in our day when I allow students to choose any book they would like.  During this time, students often flip through pages and just look at the illustrations or the photographs.  I have convinced myself that even when students just look at illustrations or photographs, they are learning.  They have more questions that can only be answered if they read the print. 

I also have time when students read to conference.  During this time, I learn which strategies students use and which lessons to plan to enhance reading skills. 

I agree with Miller when she states that the more opportunities we give children to read, the better.  I also agree that focused instruction is essential for reader’s growth.  Prioritizing allocated time each lesson is the key to success and is something I am constantly analyzing in order to give my students the best educational lessons possible.