L. M. Rosenblatt

In “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction,” James Paul Gee introduces a new approach for thinking about Literacy. Rather than think of literacy in terms of language (grammar), Gee suggests that we think of it in terms of social practice (5). Gee claims that this approach has important and interesting consequences.

As a future teacher of a fast-changing generation that searches restlessly for new interests, I believe that old and new must meet to keep the basic values of a balanced literacy. Focusing on prior knowledge, collaborating with colleagues, peers, families, and community, creating connections with our surrounding, and empowering students’ learning style throughout the process of gaining knowledge of reading and writing. Foremost, my personal philosophy of teaching literacy is based on constructivism and sociolinguistic, where hands on experience and guidance are priority in an informational world. To facilitate a child’s acquisition of literacy skills , as I plan for literacy instruction for my future classroom, I will take into consideration

Secondly, One of the people most interested in my literacy performance other than my mom was my fifth grade teacher Mr. Greg Monroe. Most students didn’t appreciate his teaching style but I did. Up until this point in my literacy development, I had excelled easily. It wasn’t until I met my teacher that year that I realized everything wasn’t going to be so easy. For the first time I had to actually study rather than to just know the information like normal. Mr. Monroe taught me that I needed to push myself to be better than good, even if it feels like I can’t. Teaching students to go beyond the norm was Monroe’s approach, and I feel as if his approach was extremely helpful as well as encouraging. He taught students to set goals and to develop aspirations. The fifth grade is the last stepping stone to becoming a middle school student which warrants new responsibilities for the students. Mr Monroe made sure that students graduated from his class not only with

There are many components that make up literacy. In order to effectively teach students these components the teacher must model the concept for the students. As teachers, we can't expect or assume that the student already knows what we expect of them. Modeling gives students a basis of what to go by. Modeling is the first and most important step in order for the students to gain mastery of a concept. A teacher must also undergo guided practice with the students. A teacher should always provide

The most essential parts of active reading are always focusing on an article and thinking more than just passively read, striving to enter into a dialogue with the editors. First, briefly look over the article and read the main points of it, at the same time the readers can also write down their ideas about the topic. These two steps are significant because the readers will be more spirited than usual, so that they can catch the editors’ central idea better and have a deeper understanding of it. Next, make marginal notes or comments. The example of a student’s notes on a poem well shows that take notes can help the readers recall where important points are discussed. Not only can they summarize the article and give assent, but also they can ask questions about it. Finally, the readers are encouraged to keep a reading journal of an essay or chapter in a reader’s own words because this can stimulate one’s own thinking. The given examples are two students’ journals, which show their critical thinking on a poem and their ideas combined with their specific

2. A Schema is a system that helps us organize and make sense of information. you may have developed a schema that all homeless people are rude and distasteful. Because of this schema, you organize your actions around it you may find the small number of them that are rude and because of this every time you see a homeless person you think they are rude and distasteful.

Schema Theory states that humans organize information about the world into social and textual schemas. Schemata are models of concepts that serve as shortcuts to understanding or predicting our perceptions. They are cognitive structures that are affected by our culture and prior experiences. Schemata are culture specific and oversimplify reality, and can lead to stereotypes, prejudice, social roles and reconstructive memory. The schema theory was first developed by Jean Piaget in 1926. He argued that children learned through existing schemas and preconceived ideas of the world. These schemas are either assimilated or accommodated. Assimilation is when you add to your knowledge bank of existing schemas. Accommodation is when you change your

Throughout my first year as a middle school Language Arts teacher, I have developed a theoretical understanding of what I believe are the necessary components to providing a meaningful and generative environment in which students develop and expand literacy skills. The teaching of literacy needs to include a balance of reading, writing, speaking and listening activities, and needs to be a social endeavor that provides a variety of instructional strategies to meet the needs of all diverse learners. My teaching strategies, beliefs and personality that I bring to my classroom can be characterized as a blend of two types of philosophical theories: social constructivism and relational teaching and

To Go Down… We All Go Down In the poem “Titanic” by David R. Slavitt, the speaker trying to tell the reader that everyone is going to eventually leave. In the poem Slavitt is using metaphors and imagery in the poem to express that everyone is going to eventually leave. Slavitt compares what he is talking about to the Titanic and how some people on the boat dyed in cold water, Slavitt writes “Not so bad , after all.

I believe that curriculum should serve diversity of students because each student differs from the other. Since my philosophy aligns with essentialism, I believe that books are helping tools that offer basic knowledge to students, so I will encourage my students to expand the knowledge, which they have studied from the textbooks. As an English teacher I believe in the importance of reading and writing skills because they expand the vocabulary and writing style, which English language follows. I will focus on sustainable development of my students' intellectual abilities through discussion and critical thinking. In addition, I will ask them to read a story, which suits their level, each two weeks then I will ask them analytical questions related to the story. Definitely, visual aid tools such as presentation slides will be used in my classroom in order to facilitate the learning process among my

I will use the Literature circle to enhance the student’s ability to collaborate on a higher level so that they can move toward independent readers, molding them to integrate in a powerful classroom activity that will activate their critical thinking skills. I will do a book study and have students to meet and discuss the importance of rotating their roles giving everyone an opportunity to share the responsibility. I will teach how to highlight in different colors distinguishing each student reading.

Stating, “’Language’ is a misleading term; it too often suggests ‘grammar.’” Whereas Discourse is more in depth, how you say something, what you are doing while saying something, what you are wearing and what you are saying. This makes so much sense because there is a certain way to talk to different people in your life. For instance, the way I talk to my mom versus how I talk to my friends is different in what I say, what I’m doing when I say it, and how I say it. Most of what Gee was writing about and trying to portray is that language can be taught but Discourse cannot be taught to an individual. I disagree with this statement, I don’t think language can be taught either. In elementary school, they lay the foundation of language for the students. But then from there on it is up to the student to do something with the information they were given. This follows the question we were asked on the first day of school, “what is a good writer?” Or even, “what is a good reader?”. A good writer or reader takes it upon themselves to take the lessons they were given to improve their skills. Therefore, language is just as unteachable as Discourse

Over the past month, we have been studying the concept of reading and writing in different communities. To assess this, we have read two different texts. Richard Rodriguez’s the achievement of desire”, from his autobiography “Hunger of Memory”; and Lucille McCarthy’s “A Stranger in Strange Lands: A College Student Writing across the Curriculum” from “Research in the Teaching of English”. Both answer key questions regarding what it takes to become a great reader and writer, however, from the reading that I have done, each one only answers one part of the question. Rodriguez’s main focus is in the aspect of reading, whereas McCarthy mainly focuses on the writing portion. Both do a decent job of analyzing and putting forth a view of how they believe a person can best perform in these environments. This then allows us to use their concepts and create our own version, based on their points of view. But why should we care? Most people at this level of academia will have developed a system of writing that works for them, and will have a difficult time breaking from it if they’re process doesn’t meet the criteria that Rodriguez, and McCarthy put forth. The reason it’s so important is because of implications these ideas have. Both authors put forth concepts that are indirectly related to one another and that are highly beneficial to all who will apply them. They will force you to conform to new environments in order to succeed, this in turn will make you more

Overview: Schema Theory is part of the cognitive theories of learning module and deals with how the brain processes new knowledge (Chalmers, 2003). Schemata are packets of prior knowledge that have been stored in a learner’s memory. Each learner has developed schemata that are based on prior experience and knowledge. Learners seek to connect new information with prior knowledge and use generalizations to assist in organization of information. Schema Theory is focused on conceptual learning and states that knowledge seeks organization in order to develop meaning (Anderson, 1984).

Reading is an act of perception, analysis, and interpretation done by the reader to get the message to be conveyed by the author in media writing. According to Farr (in Dalman, 2013: 5) suggests that "Reading is the Heart of Education, the reading of reading comprehension is an essential prerequisite for mastery and enhancement of students' knowledge, so after reading the text the reader should be able to understand the text. First, give information, for example by reading newspapers and magazines, secondly, give entertainment, for example by reading a novel.The third one, most importantly reading can provide new knowledge.The book can provide understanding as well as entertaining and providing information.