Reading as Thinking...

When I consider the correlation of reading and thinking I think of just how connected the two are. As a reader, I could not imagine myself reading without any thinking involved. There are times when I find myself reading for pleasure and before I notice, my thoughts have subconsciously started flowing.

As I am now a teacher of all things, and styles, of reading I have become more aware of the fact that reading and thinking work hand-in-hand because there is a need to comprehend anything we read, no matter the purpose of reading. This is why it is important that students are taught the use of metacognition because it makes us more aware of our thoughts as we read so that we are better able to synthesize new information.

Final Thoughts...

What a semester this has been! I must admit that I was quite hesitant prior to this class due to the fact that I have no knowledge of secondary literacy, at least I thought. As the semester began to unfold I began to consider that fact that things may not be as bad as I had expected.

One of the greatest thoughts I take from this course regarding secondary literacy is that I knew more than what I had given myself credit for. I have always wondered how fellow educators could actually enjoy teaching on secondary level. As the students are more mature and seem uninterested in school, or reading for that matter. Through class discussion, readings, and assignments I learned that students at all levels of education struggle with these issues. In secondary schools there are students interested in reading and learning and some that are not, as the same goes for primary students. Secondary students have various methods of learning, as primary students. The difference is in the teacher's approach in order to appeal to the minds of students.

I also appreciate the fact that I learned about the various forms of literacy, many of which I have never considered, and how teachers could use these forms of literacy in order to appeal to their students. Things like recipes, music, comics just to name a few could be used to really expand the reading interests and literacy among adolescent students. The writer of the text, Building Adolescent Literacy in Today's Classrooms, Andy Bomer really expanded my thinking on the literacy of students in a secondary classroom. He talked about ways educators could appreciate the various literacy students have as they enter the classroom. I immediately began to reflect on my personal teaching practices and considered ways to improve my approach to literacy in my classroom.


Throughout the first half of the semester, we as students, were encouraged to consider our own literacy practices. Prior to this course I have always considered how many books I have had the time to read in regards to my personal literacy practices. Often times we consider the novels and scholarly articles we have read, or the last time we composed our best formal writing when thinking of literacy practices and we sell ourselves short as readers and writers  through limitations. After digging deeper into literacy and learning how wide the spectrum of literacy is, I am more aware of my personal literacy practices used daily.

Earliest Memories of Food...

"Daddy, can I help" 

As I walk into the kitchen and notice my dad is beginning to cook.

"Make sure you wash your hands"

He replies back.

Sitting on the counter as I season meat. 

Fresh onions, bell peppers, garlic chopped

tossed into the pan to saute. 

Sizzle. Sizzle. 

The aroma of baked chicken fills the house.
 These are my earliest memories of food.
The memories shared between only my father and I. 

Post #8 Another Slice of Life...

As we celebrated the Easter holiday yesterday, I am overwhelmed with gratefulness for family. My siblings and I (me being the youngest of 5) came together to join my parents at the church which we were raised. After service, we gathered at my parents' house for a home cooked dinner in celebration of Resurrection Sunday and my dad's 53rd birthday. Laughter, good food, reminiscing on old memories while making new ones. It occurred to me the value of quality time with family.

I am truly thankful to have my family.

Another Slice of Life...

I am hungry...super hungry. STARVING. Have not eaten since lunch at noon. The time is now 6:15 in the evening.

"Mama did you cook today?" I ask.
"Not yet, get a snack" she shouts back through the walls.

Cheez It's...GREAT! I'm not sure how I am gonna do this but I have to try.

Push it to the back....waaaay to the back. I can't chew. Bite? Not quite. I can make it work.

Mash...using the roof of my mouth. Swallow...
Mash.Swallow...
Mash...
Mash.

...4 Cheez Its in....UGH! (frustration has built)

I can't!!! Someone else has to eat them. A whole year of this?! How will I ever survive?

No one warned me of the pain, anguish, and aggravation of learning to eat with braces.

Slice of life...

A slice of life is a snapshot of one's day in a group of words or images.

My slice of life...

As I forced myself out of bed to prepare for work, I felt the need to communicate with God. I decided to take the time to worship and pray for grace and strength through my day. The greatest reward was the presence of God I felt as I sat. Pandora played the song Overflow by Tasha Cobbs, the music played softly in the background as I read my daily devotional and entered into prayer. Within minutes I felt complete and prayers were answered. It was amazing to witness an immediate response from God before my day began. His grace is truly sufficient.

Inspiring Adolescent Readers...

Within the last week or so I have had the pleasure of reading two phenomenal articles about adolescent students having ownership in their reading and educational lives. In one article, Valerie Lee stresses the point of how we, as parents and teachers, should trust our adolescent learners to select their own reading text and transition from hovering to simply mentoring. I enjoyed reading this article because one of the main words that Lee used which stood out to me was trust. I truly believe that, teachers alone, do not allow ourselves to trust our students enough when it comes to their choice in the world of education. I have noticed myself struggling with the idea of trust in my classroom. Although my students are only in Kindergarten, they have adapted to my expectations quite well; however when the time comes for them to have choice in how to express their learning, I struggle with trusting them to meeting my expectations independently.

Using the concept of trust, Valerie Lee spoke about how to implement a sustained silent reading (SSR) in her high school class in order to allow students the time to simply read for enjoyment. I appreciated the fact that she was not judgmental of the students who brought in magazines of their hobbies such as traveling or hunting. She understood the importance of trusting them to make their own choices in their reading which eventually lead to their interest of reading novels of others topics.

 In addition to the first article, I also read an article which takes a closer look on the reading difficulties in adolescent learners and the interventions put into place in order to "help" students improve. Although I could relate to this article due to my professional experience of intervention put into place and failing; I could not help feeling bothersome because in each case discussed it seems as if the needs of these students were not being met. In addition to the needs of the students not being met, these students slip through the cracks, which could be avoided, because their parents are not being heard. I could appreciate that fact that the researchers of this article interviewed the students in order to get their thoughts on their reading struggles. This allows students the opportunity to have ownership of their education.