Renata Brown Post 4: Reggie Routman Chapter 4 "Teach with and Sense of Urgency"

I enjoyed this chapter because I felt it validated many of my believes regarding how to help students become better readers.  In the beginning of the chapter, Routman shares some ideas that would ensure students to become excellent readers.  I agree with many of them but my "top six" are: 1) having lots of books to read, 2) a variety of genres, 3) allow students to choose their books, 4) link learning to the curriculum,  5) teach strategies and 6) evaluate and provide students with regular and immediate feedback.  These ideas, plus the others listed, suggest "good teaching"  in my opinion.  And it's what I feel has driven my reading instruction for many years.  "Focusing on the kids" and their needs as readers... and fueling that with support and encouragement. What I hope to improve upon in my classroom are opportunities for my student to interact more with each other during their reading time. My controlling nature drives me to want to always have students talk to me.  This is because I can control the conversations and trust that most everyone is on task.  However, I do realize the on task engagement between one student and another is very beneficial... especially in building understanding and other key communication and writing skills. Creating our own text for shared, guided and independent reading is another area that I feel I can do more to improve upon.  We do a little bit of this in fifth grade, as well as, in previous grades I've taught.  But I'd like to do more with publishing works so that we can tie in more integrated lessons across the curriculum.  I believe that I have high expectations for my students and I am confident that they can met those expectations.  I constantly remind them of how great they are (regardless of where they come from) and that they can achieve greatness as readers and writers with constant practice and the right attitude.  So in teaching my students with urgency and love I can/will help them become excellent readers.