Week 9- October 27, 2010

Entry 9: Due: October 27, 2010

Guiding Prompt: FREE POST! Use this week to post on any educational topic of your choice. Found an article? Love a blog or resource? Have an in-depth discussion with family/friends on education? Share your thoughts!

This semester I have been fulfilling a field experience for my Young Adult Literature (English 949) class at Hunter Elementary. This school is located on E. Davies street in downtown Raleigh. For my field experience, I am working with a sweet kindergartner who struggles with reading. In order to work with her speech, reading, and competency skills, I go read with her once a week. I read her books from the MeredithREADS (MotherREADS) selection and go prepared with different activities to further her understanding. In my EDU 255 class sophomore year (with Dr. Duncan), I also fulfilled this field experience at Powell Elementary. I have loved doing the MeredithREADS program; it has taught me so much. Not only does it require me to come prepared with a lesson, objective, and activities, it also gives me hands on experience with children who really seem to struggle. I am looking forward to taking the EDU literacy course in the spring; I believe I will be able to use these field experiences in order to better understand the material. In comparing these two different experiences with MeredithREADS, it is neat to see how differently children learn. The little boy I worked with at Powell last year was very hands on and struggled focusing throughout the story (when it was read), whereas the little girl I work with at Hunter is very attentive throughout the reading, however, struggles to sit still throughout the reflection and activity. Working with different children at different schools has showed me the importance of tailored learning; every child should be given the chance to learn in a way that best suits their learning styles and needs. I have also seen the importance of early reading in a child's life. Those who are read to at home and have the required resources tend to develop a better vocabulary and are better able to express their feelings, emotions, and thoughts. Knowing and remembering these things will help me become best educator I can be.