My
concentration is teaching English and Language Arts at the High School level. The following information was obtained from Chapter 110 of the Texas Essential
Knowledge and Skills for English, Language Arts, and Reading, Subchapter C.
§110.31(1)
Introduction: The English
Language Arts and Reading Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are
organized into the following strands: Reading, where students read and
understand a wide variety of literary and informational texts; Writing, where
students compose a variety of written texts with a clear controlling idea,
coherent organization, and sufficient detail; Research, where students are
expected to know how to locate a range of relevant sources and evaluate,
synthesize, and present ideas and information; Listening and Speaking, where
students listen and respond to the ideas of others while contributing their own
ideas in conversations and in groups; and Oral and Written Conventions, where
students learn how to use the oral and written conventions of the English
language in speaking and writing. The standards are cumulative--students will
continue to address earlier standards as needed while they attend to standards
for their grade. In English I, students will engage in activities that build on
their prior knowledge and skills in order to strengthen their reading, writing,
and oral language skills. Students should read and write on a daily basis.
According
to the Technology Applications Standards
for All Beginning Teachers, technological terms, concepts and applications
are to be incorporated into lessons and integrated with the TEKS standards into
the curriculum for English and Language Arts. Technological skills are clearly
required for research and locating sources. As an English teacher, it is my
intention not only to instruct my students on how to locate sources with a
multitude of online search options, but also how to identify the origin and
reliability of those sources. The Texas Education Agency’s English, Language Arts, and
Reading Standards indicate
that teachers will provide students will opportunities to develop skills in the
areas of producing visual images and messages in various media
forms. Reading and writing are required for internet research, as well as the
creation of multi-media presentations to exhibit the student’s acquired
knowledge. I think that allowing students to create these types of
technological presentations, individually or in groups, can enhance the
learning process, while also providing them with the opportunity to simultaneously
hone both their technological and Language Arts skills.
The most
important TEKS in the introductory section shown above actually jumped out at
me. The last line specifically states that “students should read and write on a daily basis”. Most notable is the word ‘and’, not ‘or’. Teachers are directed to provide their
students with instruction and lessons that incorporate both reading and
writing, every single day. By following
this simple but direct guideline, it will take care of nearly all of the rest
of the directives. By assigning students to read and a wide
variety of texts, organize their ideas, and write them out clearly and
concisely each day, they will have already complied with over half of the
standards listed. “The standards are cumulative”
is an indication that the students’ knowledge, with regard to reading and
writing, is an ongoing process, meant to be continuously worked on and improved
upon, with no conclusion noted.
http://vizedhtmlcontent.next.ecollege.com/CurrentCourse/Files%20Management/Tech%20apps %20for%20beginning%20teachers.pdf
I can see that technology based upon your blog that English will use that a lot on various levels. I like that you are implementing that into your curriculum. It's true, it is an ongoing process when it comes to terms of reading and writing and doing what you said can really help a lot of students get a strong foundation for future reading and writing.
ReplyDeleteMichael Clark- Comment above.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with you more on the fact that students should read and write EVERY day! This goes for all students. Reading and writing stimulate creativity along with growing vocabulary. In 2009, the NAEP stated that only one-third of students entering high school are proficient in reading. I believe this is because students stop reading for pleasure and only read when they have to. If they continue to read and write their skills will get stronger and their knowledge will grow.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.scholastic.com/readeveryday/pdfs/reading_facts.pdf