02/19/10 Weekly Repsone

Unfortunately I am still unable to post my web cam response so with that being said I have to write it. As far as this week I feel more comfortable with using the blog website and had a great time reading my fellow classmates responses along with reading about them and their educational experiences. As far as the literacy toolkit I learned many different strategies that I plan to incorporated in my classes currently and in the near future. During my reading and active research I noticed that educators should provide student the opportunity to Pre & Post test in order to get actual understanding of what content material should be covered again in order to reinforce the lesson for all students. I also learned that the media should be heavily incorporated into the lesson to help students visualize specific information. What I would do differently in my toolkit, I would include a great deal of lessons that touch upon each multiple intelligences that will help my specific students within the field of special education get an opportunity to show their talents in certain content area classes along with keeping their interest at heart. Which will help them learn that subject matter because they are fully engaged.

02/12/10 Weekly Respone Text

By being unsuccessful at posting my video updates I am writing my weekly response: Well for this week I was very frustrated at first with the actual assignment of posting the web cam response which took a lot of time out of my busy schedule but I did learn a lot about actually setting up a blog account and how cool it is to incorporate into the classroom for my students to use in the future, its is especially a great tool for students in the area of Special Education who like to use the media as apposed to traditional assignments. I found communicating with my classmates can open your mind in terms of specific viewpoints. This is very different for me especially when in a traditional online course you never really communicate at all. with your fellow peers. I am very pleased with the course so far but feel that the technological difficulties held me back a bit that is why I am instead of being viewed on a video clip. I hope to gain more knowledge in the field of secondary content area reading skills especially in the realm of using the media outlets.

Content Literacy Toolkit

Theresa Dennis
REED 502
Dr. Jenkins
February 19, 2010
“What to include in your content literacy toolkit”
A professional educator within the field of regular or special education should integrate the following instructional strategies/best practices to increase the content literacy in all subject matter, which will include the following:
· Professional Development
· Monthly trainings with involvement from every staff.
· Modified lesson plans
· Narrative resources
· Content literacy projects
· Research Projects related to that subject matter
· Tools that are related to each student accommodations i.e. (larger print, tapes on books, and easy readers for that subject.)
· Incorporating the use of the different types of media.
· Family involvement
Each lesson in my toolkit will include the teacher and the paraprofessional work together to provide quality instruction before, during, and after reading/ learning the subject matter. Each lesson will include some examples of explicit instructions with the use of:
· Modeling
· Guided Practice
· Independent Practice
· Active Research outside of the classroom setting.
· Materials that help enhance the lesson plans which in most cases are either hands- on activities or visual aids.
In every classroom within eyesight all of the chalk boards and all teacher-made printable will be in “BOLD PRINT” which will allow students to find the description of each literacy strategies by:
· Step-by-step directions for each lesson.
· Charts illustrating information for that unit
· Daily objectives for the material that is to be covered.
Each class will have instructional outcomes that allow students to activate
· Prior knowledge
· Make predictions
· Provide correct answers which untimely ensure a passing grade.
· Clear understanding of material covered.
· Increased test scores either teacher made or on a national level.
· Information instilled in the students mind throughout adulthood.