Step Into the Classroom
From the desk of Hope…
Step into a classroom in which students are preparing to be college and career ready. In this classroom students are merging reading, writing, thinking as they pose problems that are real or problems they foresee in the future. They think about what they want to know more about and subsequently form collaborative groups to build their background knowledge and understanding of their curiosities. Students are knee to knee and eye to eye talking about what they are learning and adjusting their thinking based on their respected classmates thoughts and opinions. They are learning from each other. They are living literacy.
The teacher in this classroom has set her classroom up so students can work comfortably. There are spaces for independent work as well as spaces for groups to gather. There are plenty of books, and resources for them to use as they work to merge their thinking, reading and writing. The teacher is supporting learning by showing the processes she uses when she reads and writes. Conferencing is one of the main instructional strategies used in this classroom as it allows the teacher to understand her students as learners. The more she knows about how her students, the more responsive she can be with her teaching and resources. Learning permeates this classroom.
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Our Common Core standards for literacy have descriptions that offer a representation of students who meet the standards for being career and college ready. As students advance through the grades and master the standards in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language, they are able to build capacity towards the literate individual.
They demonstrate independence:
Students can comprehend, evaluate and discuss many different kinds of texts without a lot of support. They are self directed learners who ask questions about what they are reading and seek clarification when needed through technology, texts, teachers and classmates. Additionally, they build on others’ ideas and change their thinking as they learn new information. They naturally anchor their thinking with writing for a variety of purposes.
They build strong content knowledge:
Students build deep understanding of subject matter by using high quality resources. They become “experts” on topics. They establish a purpose for their learning and share their extended and deep knowledge in the form of written and oral presentations.
They respond to the varying demands of audience, task, purpose, and discipline:
Students are aware of their task and audience. They adjust their reading, writing, listening and speaking according to their audience. They understand how to communicate to diverse groups of people and make minor adjustments to enhance tone. They also know that different subject areas call for different types of documentation and annotations.
They comprehend as well as critique:
Students consider the author’s assumptions, motivations and credibility as they read and listen to information. The work carefully to presicely understand the author’s message as they critique. They may choose to do furthur reseach on a topic to compare and contrast an authors view point.
They value evidence:
When students interpret text orally or in a written form they use relevant evidence. They know it is important to back up their understanding and opinions when they talk or write about what they have read. They also listen constructively for evidence when others’ present through writing or talking.
They come to understand other perspectives and cultures:
Students appreciate diverse backgrounds and perspectives. They realize the value of different background and understandings and believe we are smarter together. Students work to understand topics from all points of view and see the connection to diversity of thinking in the workplace.
They use technology and digital media strategically and capably:
Students are competent with using technology. They use it thoughtfully and purposefully for reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students understand that technology has limits and therefore use off-line resources for learning, cross checking information and researching authors’ credibility.
Why does this matter?
Our students are our future leaders. They are in the pipeline to be our future doctors, lawyers, teachers, mechanics, hair stylists and many other important professions. They will need to be ready to live within a diplomacy and work to keep our great nation free and thriving. They also need to be ready for life! It is important that our educational systems reflect upon the standards and practices that foster college and career ready students and, if they have not already, begin the vital transition. ERG feels privileged to be a part of this important era in education.