Hi,
Change is a difficult thing for everyone. It may be that the teachers you are working with are not 100% sure of how to teach the strategies you are discussing. They may also not see why they are important. The more rationale you can offer them, the better. I coach teachers regularly and one technique that works very well is to phrase things in terms of what the students need vs. what the teachers should do. "The students are having trouble remembering the vocabulary for this unit, here are some strategies that will help the kids connect to the text better and remember the vocabulary..." The focus remains on the students- always. If the teachers say they are already integrating reading and writing in other subject areas- then consider sharing explicit examples of strategies you feel they need to add to what they are doing. Is it possible for you to model a science or social studies lesson for them where you explicitly demonstrate the kinds of strategy instruction you are referring too? Seeing you in action may make your conversations about Mosaic more meaningful. You could also video tape yourself with your own students if it is not possible to visit other classrooms. Amy McGovern > Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:02:11 -0500 > To: [email protected] > From: [email protected] > Subject: [MOSAIC] Thematic Units or Reading Across the Curriculum > > Hello friends. I am leading a Mosaic book study with teachers at my school. > Many, if not all, of the teachers say they "integrate reading and writing > and teach it across the curriculum". I believe this is code for not > specifically teaching reading and writing, but rather assigning reading and > writing assignments/activities, and calling that their instruction of > reading/writing. What they are actually teaching is social studies or > science, with throwing in reading and writing assignments with no > instruction on how to read or write strategically. > > Personally, I believe in the workshop framework for both reading and > writing, and believe in directly teaching reading and writing strategies > through mini-lessons. They believe, wholeheartedly, that their thematic, > integrated approach to teaching is working and best practice. I believe > differently. > > How do I combat this response of "integrated" instruction? > Am I missing a crucial piece? Perhaps I am wrong here and many of you also > use thematic units and content areas to teach strategies. How do other > teachers of workshop model classrooms handle the balance between reading and > social studies? > > Many thanks! > > Andrea Jenkins > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _________________________________________________________________ Rediscover Hotmail®: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
