Summary

During my time in the literacy leadership courses I discovered a lot about myself as a confident
teacher. I realized that I could one day in the near future be a strong facilitator, collaborator, and
advocate with and for other teachers. I could offer not only my teaching services to students; but my
colleagues as well. In chapter 5 of the Literacy Coach’s Survival Guide the first step is to be a good and
active listening. This text is one keepsake from EDCS 605 that I will forever keep on my shelf.
I have learned a lot and taken several next steps in furthering my career to my next adventure. I
was lucky enough to do s few case studies that really let me explore and go through the process of
identifying and assisting students as I could still assist them if I moved out of the classroom on a day to
day basis. For example, in SPED 637 I worked with a middle school colleague and a sixth grader; a
grade level I normally do not work with; although I am credentialed to teach as high as sixth grade.
Teaching that sixth grader some explicit rules and seeing him enjoy that was rewarding. In SPED 607 I
taught one of my second graders strategies to help with his text comprehension. Last case study was
from SPED 638 and was a great learning opportunity for me to work with a very outlined text for
explicit instruction to teach someone how to read. One of my struggling second graders benefited
greatly from being taught very clearly how to distinguish between short and long sounds to develop
fluency. Her growth was very clear and made for some excellent data for myself on how important
explicit instruction is for all learners.
SPED 637 taught me a lot about the interconnections between reading and writing. I learned
about research best practices and the laws and regulations around Dyslexia and other learning
disabilities. I learned through course EDCS 605 to be strong in my foundational knowledge and
prepared me to be ready for my next career step. I became a literacy coach and collaborated and
worked with a colleague in EDCS 605. I learned about how to change my role from being in the
classroom and working with students daily to working with adults. I didn’t think I would want to; or
like to be out of the classroom and working with adults. However, I enjoyed it immensely and felt I
made a huge impact on my colleague and I had helped her and her students. I am proud and glad that as
a final take away I have this weebly as a visual, technological, and creative showcase of a lot of my
hard work through my time in the literacy leader pathway.