2006-09-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

September 26 – So today we took the Meyers Briggs test so that we can know ourselves better or something like that. Apparently I’m an “I”, introvert. But that doesn’t mean I’m socially inept. Or shy for that matter. It just means that I think things through before speaking. But I guess the greater point is that by identifying our students’ personality traits, we can know better how to help them.

September 27 - Today I was thinking about how eager I am to enter the classroom. Being a former teacher, I think it will be hard not having my own classroom. After all, I really loved teaching, but was afraid I wouldn’t be able to balance a full time teaching job as well as full time graduate study. So reading buddies will be that bridge for me.

September 28 - I’ve gotten a chance to know the other reading buddies over the past few days and I look forward to continued friendships. I think that we will be a great support group for each other. And I’ll definitely need support after today’s workshop on phonics vs. whole word instruction and the importance of “automaticity”. There’s so much that I don’t know (that I need to know)…

September 29 - We had child abuse training today, which was disturbing. Some people are just really deranged. I’m really hoping I won’t have to deal with abuse issues with my students this year. We had a case at my former school where a female student complained to one of my team teachers that her dad had slapped her. We didn't know if that constituted "abuse" but seeing as we're "mandated reporters" we took the "better to be safe than sorry" route. Aparently CPS investigated their home and filed a report. The student became furious with us (the team teachers) over the matter. She said she was just being a brat that day and that we didn't have to take it so seriously. After that, she didn't confide in us anymore and became a little more disruptive in the classroom. I suppose we did the right thing...

October 3 - Today we started looking into what kind of books might be appropriate for our students. I think it will be important to find books that are engaging for an older student whose reading fluency is limited. In small groups we read and discussed the children’s book, freedom summer, which deals with the issue of segregation. Some felt it was an adult issue and inappropriate for children. I completely disagree. The topic is relevant for all students in the US (and worldwide) but it wouldn’t be the best book for our program because there’s so much pre-reading prep and post-reading discussion which would need to take place. I really liked the book and actually ordered it online for my nine year old niece!

October 4 – I was excited to finally get my school assignment. The other three reading buddies who will be at my school are AWESOME, and I know I’ll be able to work together well to provide the best reading enrichment for our students.

October 5- Today we talked about intelligence; whether it is fixed or malleable. Of course, either way we have to believe it’s malleable because otherwise what would our motivation be to improve?

October 10 - We picked up some great skills today on leveling books. It seems so simple when we’re working together in a workshop, but what about when I’m on my own???

October 11 – Today was part two of learning how to match our students with books at their reading level. I sure could’ve used this information when I was teaching eighth graders in South Texas. I didn’t know what to do with my students reading at a third grade level!

October 12 - ESL, ELL, ESOL, LEP...I wonder who comes up with these terms anyway. And who determines that one is "oppressive" and needs to be changed? Aside from the terminology wars, today we had another great session on meeting the needs of non-native English speaking students (I wonder if that's a correct term! lol) We acquired great strategies for when we're reading to students and when they're reading to us.

October 13 - Today we concluded our three week training. I can't believe how much information I've acquired during this time and I feel confident to start working with my students.

Reading Buddy Lati