I am into the second month of my student teaching, about to begin my unit, and am super excited, nervous, and ready.
Tomorrow I will be teaching in front of two freshmen classes. I know this will be one of the more difficult classes that I have had: they are bigger than many classes that I have experience with (30+), and they can be kind of rowdy, as any 14 year old.
I want them to learn and I have been wracking my brain (and the web) for the most effective lessons to teach. These students cannot always focus, so group work is not always the most productive. I really need them to connect to the text in order for my teaching to be effective.
As teachers we need to remember that we are here for them, so we do need to differentiate our instruction, even though it is more difficult to plan. I know this is the only way that I will truly be able to reach my students and teach them how to become successful.
I found this unique way for students to connect to the text and I am super excited to share. This is from
Critical Reading Strategies from Salisbury University's website. I provided a link if you are interested.
4. Reflecting on challenges to your beliefs and values: Examining your personal responses.
The reading that you do for this class might challenge your attitudes, your unconsciously held beliefs, or your positions on current issues. As you read a text for the first time, mark an X in the margin at each point where you feel a personal challenge to your attitudes, beliefs, or status. Make a brief note in the margin about what you feel or about what in the text created the challenge. Now look again at the places you marked in the text where you felt personally challenged. What patterns do you see?
