Hello, I'm new to the list. I teach third grade in Northern California and
have been an evangelist for comprehension strategy instruction since I first
read the book that most influenced my life, MOT. I am thrilled to find others
like me, LOL, so thanks to Joy for telling me about this list.
And I'm going to enter the discussion between Cathy and Jennifer and you. I
wholeheartedly agree that connections are a good place to start. The kiddos do
need something concrete to latch onto in the beginning. I also teach them
stems to get them going ("I infer...) with new strategies. The kids who soar
drop the stems and think, but many struggling students need to hang onto them.
I know this works and I know it transfers because I've been doing it for years.
I always wonder about the interweaving of reading and writing and had another
eye-opener from the kids who teach me everyday. Last week we had a 'guest
author' for our WW minilesson. Elizabeth was a brilliant third grade writer
who moved to Maryland at the conclusion of the year but was here visiting--so I
invited her to workshop to read and discuss some of her work. While I was busy
pointing out technique and process, the kids knew (thanks to MOT) to get to the
heart of the matter. They asked her questions about times she was 'stuck,'
where she got her ideas, and (this is the part that amazed me--really!) made
t-t connections between her work and their own. Just one more reason I believe
that this kind of teaching, teaching kids to think, to delve, TO UNDERSTAND,
changes lives.
Thanks for allowing me to join you,
Judy
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