Dave Barr Journal 1 RDG 323

Chapter One: Literacy Matters

Before Reading:
1. Write an autobiographical reflection in which you recall middle and high school
teachers (no names used) whom you believe were effective and/or ineffective. What
strategies did the teachers use that engaged or disengaged students? Following the
written assignment, divide a chart into two columns: Effective Strategies and
Ineffective Strategies
a. I had a teacher in high school who is still the best professor that I
have ever had in my entire life. His tireless work and effort to groom
us into effective historians was impressive to say the least. He kept
us interested by using discussion based classes and respecting our
views. He made me personally feel very comfortable in his
classroom. He also encouraged us to develop our views and
constantly had us research to make sure our views were backed by
facts and not by false data.

Effective Strategies Ineffective Strategies

Respect Authority
Discussion Lectures
Your own views Listen to my word

2. What is content or disciplinary literacy? Why is it important that content teachers

integrate effective reading, writing, thinking, and communicating strategies in the
classroom?

a. My content area is History and to show that you have content literacy is to be
able to analyze documents, form opinions and back those opinions with more
sources. It is very important to integrate the above strategies because of all
the reading materials and analyzation associated with history.

3. Why are you taking this course? What goals do you have for the class, in order to
have a positive experience this semester?

a. I am taking this class because it is required by school but also because I know
the importance of history in class but, don’t know as many strategies to

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integrate it in the classroom. My goals are to stay on task at all times and
really focus on implementing my work in the classroom.

4. Work in a small group to complete the following anticipation guide: Mitch

and I did this.

True Statement False

Reading instruction in Reading instruction is

middle and secondary
schools is unnecessary.
one of the most
important things that you
can teach so that
students can understand
what they are learning
and understanding the
text

I think that textbooks Content area teachers

should be use to should expect students to
supplement not for the read their textbooks.
total learning experience
but students should have
to read their textbook

This is true that is the The primary role of the

primary role of the content area teacher is to
teacher however I feel as teach subject matter.
though as a teacher you
have to play different
roles and ware different
hats and that is not all
the job is at all in any
way shape or form

While Reading

1. Read pages 10 - 18. Define the following terms: content literacy,

disciplinary literacy, new literacies. What are the similarities and
differences between these terms?

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a. Content literacy can be defined as the ability to use reading and

writing for the acquisition of new content in a given discipline.
b. Disciplinary literacy is defined as the confluence of content
knowledge, experiences, and skills merged with the ability to read,
write, listen, speak, think critically and perform in a way that is
meaningful within the context of a given field.
c. How are these concepts related? They both use reading, writing and
analyzation to show proficiency in both content and how you study
the said content.

2. Two Column Notes

Read pages 18 - 23. Use the two column note sheet to keep track of 3-4
essential ideas from the chapter. In the first column record a quote or direct
phrases from the text in the second column record your personal response

What the Text Says Why it Matters

There are other cultural differences Students may have a tough time
that may interfere with student when it doesn’t represent them.
participation.
An additional way to promote This will allow students to feel
security and create a sense of comfortable within the classroom.
belonging is to create a home group
Students with little or no English This could make us forget in a
proficiency tend to be placed at the sense about the well-being of the
periphery of the classroom. student.
As English language acquisition As they become better with their
progresses, they begin to feel like English they will feel as if they are a
part of the fabric of your class. part of the class.

3. Reread the paragraph on page 21: A Plan for the Improvement of English
Spelling. Describe some of the strategies you used to read this paragraph. How
would both excellent readers and striving readers each attempt to comprehend
this type of academic text?

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Dave Barr Journal 1 RDG 323

A. One way the student could take the take and understand it better is
taking it in bit by bit. This will allow to decipher chunks at a time and therefore
have a better grasp of the material.

After Reading (To be done after Wednesday’s class)

Place yourself in the role of a staff developer in your school. Write an email
(roughly three paragraphs) to teachers, using your powers of persuasion,
explaining the need for incorporating literacy instruction to content area
classrooms. Do your best to convince your readers that content area teachers
need to go beyond assigning and telling.

Three Paragraph Email:

Attention all teachers and faculty,

Hello there,

Do you want your students to become better at all the subjects and improve
your standing? Are you prepared to become the best known and most innovate
administrator in your district? Well, I have the perfect idea for you. It is called
literacy strategies and they will not only improve your student’s life but your
teachers as well.

How do you implement these ideas and use them effectively? The first that
has to be done is that the students have to be able to analyze text. In my content
area, history, this essential. For instance, with historical text, you want the students
to have some previous knowledge. This will allow them to have a better
understanding of the text and will improve their further reading writing. Per say
they are learning about the home front during one of the world wars, it would do

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the better to look at images of the home front rather than jumping them in to
reading a diary of a housewife or worker during that time because they could make
a prediction first

Not only will this help the students but it will make your school in general
run much better and make you look even better. The kids will go to higher
education with a leg on the competition because they will be able to analyze text
and it all come back on you because you decided to take the initiative and
implement these strategies.

Regards

David Barr: Staff Developer

Wiens RDG 323 Fall 2018 Digital Journal