Reading is Fundamental

In the new learning paradigm what is required is “Learning to be, learning to learn and learning to do as a means of developing the members of organizations and their environment in a purposeful way...European Journal of Management Fall 2008 by Marilyn A Harris et al
Read everything that will help propel you toward your Goals.
Reading a fundamental is a saying that I grew up with.
Reading is one of the best ways to learn.
Reading is just the reverse process of writing. It puts information into your brain for future use. You will have storage and access to that knowledge whenever you need it.

Components of a Balanced Literacy Program (Part 1)

Photo taken by E Rochford

In this blog I am looking at the four types of reading that should be encouraged in the classroom if we are to effectively contribute to producing literate citizens of the 21st Century.
I remember how I loved story time whether at home or at school. I remember listening to the storyteller’s (mother or teacher) voice and creating mental images. Now I teach at a Secondary school and the pace is hectic, but, you know what I still find time to read for my students. My Form 1’s to 3’s absolutely love for me to read to and with them! Reading aloud for your children both at home and at school create a special quality bonding time as well as enhancing the following:
• Provides adult model of fluent reading
• Develops sense of story/text
• Develops vocabulary
• Encourages prediction
• Builds a community of readers
• Develops active listening*
When was the last time you and your students participated in shared reading where you the teacher and your students read text together? Research has shown that this activity when done consistently helps students in that it:
• Demonstrates awareness of text
• Develops sense of story or content
• Promotes reading strategies
• Develops fluency and phrasing
• Increases comprehension
• Encourages politeness and respect *
Guided Reading is a great activity that allows you the teacher to introduce reading material that is at your students’ instructional level. This type of reading benefits all but, especially the struggling readers in your classroom as for them to be given material specially chosen by their teacher just for them is a confidence booster.
• Promotes reading strategies
• Increases comprehension
• Encourages independent reading
• Expands belief in own ability *
How many of us who were able to read really well at an early age remember how we were taught to read? I can’t, it seems as if I just knew how to read, and that may be the case, but what these four types of reading have shown me is that there’s a time for reading aloud and a time for sharing; a time for guiding and a time for letting go. Independent Reading allows your students to do just that to let go and read independently!
• Encourages strategic reading
• Increases comprehension
• Supports writing development
• Extends experiences with a variety of written texts
• Promotes reading for enjoyment and information
• Develops fluency
• Fosters self-confidence by reading familiar and new text
• Provides opportunities to use mistakes as learning opportunities *

A TRINI TEACHER'S DREAM CLASSROOM
LEARNING AREAS
Whole-Group Area
For whole-class lessons-this includes informal discussion, direct instruction, and student presentations. This is a good place for an Author's Chair from which students can read their writing to the class.
Small-Group Area
Here you can give small-group instruction or allow groups of students to gather for peer-led discussions.
Reading Area
This is a place for students to read independently or quietly with a partner. It should provide comfortable seating, a variety of books, and a quiet, secluded atmosphere.
Writing Center
Here students write independently and collaboratively. The area should contain comfortable space for writing and a variety of supplies.
Cross-Curricular Center
This is an active center where students explore relationships across different curricula, including literature, science, social studies, art, and math.
Computer Station
This area is for computer use in writing, math, reading, keyboard practice, research, telecommunications, and creative games.
Creative Arts Center
This area is where students can get involved in visual art and dramatic play. It should have a variety of art supplies, costumes, and props.
Communication Area/Post Office
This area has mail slots for students and teacher to exchange written messages and suggestions.
Listening Station
Here students listen to tapes of books, stories, Ole time stories, calypsos, songs, and poems.

THIS THING CALLED POETIC JUSTICE...IT SWEET TOO BAD!

There is such a thing called “poetic justice” and for all my colleagues who sweated, fussed, cussed (yeah some godly people turned b...), had the jitters, over ate, lose sleep, lose weight, lose hair, lose work, lose their mind, nearly lose faith, nearly lose their spouse, made multi-tasking look like a joke (fus dey were good), copy ‘n paste with their eyes close, were the reason for all de flooding in Trinidad, and by extension were the cause for the OdPM boss resigning, and dengue outbreak.
All because of an activity that I will love to call one of utter futility but I will wait and see. But back to my first statement about poetic justice, as teachers we know more than anyone else when you give your students assignment you automatically give yourself the same assignment and so colleagues you realise now why the mantra that helped me through this dark night of the soul period was so supportive, “There is a God, yes there is a God and that which you give out shall be returned to you multiplied, tripled, shake down...” need I say more? I am sure you get my drift. Someone said to me I would love to be there for the process and my response was, “I don’t want to be there when the .... hit the fan!”
You know what was the final straw when here was I deep in the throes of the final hours of a difficult labour (must have been Last Quarter as you know they say a labour in Last Quarter is a slow painful process). Anyway here was I deep into it and thinking “I can see a light at the end of the tunnel when a few days before there was only a weak glimmer” when I saw that I had received mail about EDRL 6004....hmmh they’re writing to give us an extension but not me I don’t want any, not after I burst my brain and every other part of my anatomy doing this, no way! But I wanted to see what they were writing to say and so I left what I was doing and diverted my focus to read the e-mail.
My response as I am sure was the response of all right thinking Trinis “STEUPS!” All I can say about that e-mail was that it was a downright, blatant act of subliminal blackmail and threat. Who in their right mind (granted that they might have lost it doing this activity) will fall for that? I am sure all of you work darn hard in the hope of getting an A in this activity to give it up for an extension which if I recall correctly, was just as impossible as NJAC (sorry had to be real outrageous) winning an Election. So why now? And why the Disclaimer?
Anyway I deleted the thing if I could have spammed it I would have and went back to important matters...finishing my assignment , which I would be happy to get out of my hand, my head, my life and into the hand of the giver! So you see now where I am coming from when I began writing about poetic justice?
Colleagues enjoy the beginning of your holidays!

KEEP THEM CLOSE

Photo taken by E Rochford

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.... So, Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly..... Leave the rest to GOD.

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore".
No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say "I love you."
So while we have it, its best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick.
This is true for marriage.....And old cars... And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special.. And so, we keep them close!

ONE OF THE REASONS FOR MY JOY

Photo taken by E.Rochford

I absolutely love looking at and taking pictures of the sky. This shot was taken last week from my balcony.Sighting a rainbow reminds me of the GREATNESS that is there in the Universe.

"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." Gen.9:16

REFLECTING ON ICT

Interestingly innovative
Cool and creative
Technologies that include 21st century Web 2.0 tools such as ebooks, Digital Storytelling, Wikis and Blogs just to name a few.
ICT, which stand for Information and Communication Technology for those who do not have a clue.
If you want to know more about it go read the Ministry’s Draft Policy from 2005
It's in their archive
As I have said before…
Interestingly innovative
Cool and creative
Technology!