Reading is an important aspect of life and it will follow students through life. Examining and analyzing different elements of stories will provide students tools that help students understand more complex books. This will be the foundation of children's knowledge, which they will use in years to come. Being able to identify elements in stories will allow students to understand books at a deeper meaning. So, when children get into high school they will be able to understand books like Wuthering Heights, The Scarlet Letter, and The Great Gatsby.…
Ms. Vonda Brown is a petite woman whose dark brown hair is always pulled up in a no- nonsense bun or ponytail that makes her look slightly taller than she really is. Whenever she grades papers her dark-rimmed glasses slide down her nose and her face scrunches up in concentration. When she is not wearing her glasses you can get a clear glimpse of her hazel eyes and the way they twinkle when she laughs or finds something intriguing. Her melodious laughter penetrates even the coldest of moments and brings others into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Armed with her great sense of humor and her gregarious personality and a far-reaching knowledge of all things to boot, Ms. Brown is supreme.…
While observing at P.S 105 X in The Bronx, Mrs. Downs’s second grade classroom is a surprisingly calm, regular classroom with 25 students. The classroom was filled with the students, teacher and paraprofessional. Usually, there is another co-teacher in the classroom; however, she was on maternity leave. When entering the classroom, I could see on the other side of the room, against the windows the wall was filled with books, as well as bins in the back of the classroom. The wall is switched out each month with different books that go along with the unit.…
A bright and motivated student, it is a great pleasure having Bridget in class this year. A hardworking student, it is very important for Bridget to do what is expected of her, and as a result, she does not hesitate to ask for clarification when she does not understand something. As new concepts do not always come easy to her, she works best when assignments are broken down into small steps and modeled for her. Although she works slow and steady on all of her class assignments, she puts careful thought into all of her work, handing in assignments that are neat, organized and demonstrate a solid understanding of the concept.…
English Learners Story Night Reading Buddies There is an avalanche of English Learners arriving in Americans schools each year. Teachers around the country must use many strategies to help these students learn the curriculum, as well as the new language. Literacy is the key component for this learning to happen. Although teachers are usually the biggest literary influence ELL students will have, parent participation is an essential component to develop children’s passion for literacy. Unfortunately, many ELL parents do not feel comfortable participating in school activities, or even helping their children with homework because of the language barrier.…
S-T-O-P “It is physically impossible to not read,” claimed my fourth grade friend. This was the friend that devoured chapter books like cookies in first grade and was well above average in all of her reading scores. Without a doubt, she was the opposite of me. “Of course,” I reasoned, “It’s physically impossible for you.” After thinking about it though, I became aware of the fact that many of us become so literate by fourth grade, that we read without even realizing that we are reading.…
In reading this past trimester, the students learned how to participate in student-led book clubs. They took on roles including, manager, discussion director, word detective, real life connector, and summary sergeant. Through these roles, they learned to think deeper about their text, be responsible for their jobs, and discuss their thoughts with a small group. Caroline read the book, Out of My Mind. She was an active participant in her group and successfully helped her book club members stay on task.…
My interest was piqued when I learned of the depth and breadth of Tufts’ engineering program. With the opportunity of earning credit for a civil engineering internship, multiple specialized research labs, and courses spanning public health engineering to the legal issues of engineering and environmental law, the engineering community on campus seemed unique to me in its values of extending engineering past the math and science learning aspects to community involvement and real-life applications. As a person with interests spanning graphic design to tower designs, I saw my own desire to improve the world across all disciplines in Tufts. I love libraries. In my family, it was tradition to visit the nearby library on weekends; these sacred places of learning were an important part of the community I grew up in.…
I sat in the back of the car with my head resting against the window, almost quivering in anticipation. The book in my hands was not long by my current standards, but 309 pages was a lot for an eight year old to absorb. After spending nearly a week carrying the first volume of Harry Potter with me everywhere I went, I was anxious and excited to finish the novel. At first, I had no intention or desire to read Harry Potter; on the contrary, the week before my dad handed me his copy of the first book, I had told a friend that it was “stupid” and not worth my time. I begrudgingly started reading at my dad’s request, soon marveling at the incredible world contained between the pages in my hands.…
As numerous memories as I have of reading, I have no memory of learning how to read, so I assume I was too young for it to create a lasting impression. However, I vividly remember visiting my grandmother in Washington state when I was between the ages of five and six. We would sit before immense windows that overlooked the house’s yard and read short stories together. Thinking of these times inspires fond memories of reading stories such as Frog and Toad. I think this has an underlying effect I didn’t realize until writing this essay.…
Marissa DeLaPaz Journal entry #3 Memories My earliest memories of reading in elementary school were so great was truly unforgettable. Although having been in elementary school was so long ago, it feels like it was yesterday. I can remember the teacher reading the cat in the hat to my class and, making us green eggs and ham. Along with, remembering the sound of her voice and the smell of the green eggs and ham. We were all sitting in the cafeteria of my private school, with the teacher reading the book while we ate our green eggs and ham.…
It was October of my seventh grade year and I found myself sitting in Ms. Keyes’ reading class. One Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Keyes put us in groups based on our reading levels and interests. What interested me the most were books that were suspenseful, full of action, and ones that moved at a fast pace with a colorful cast of characters. Her goal was to get me to enjoy reading again; she made that her personal mission.…
I remember what Pre-K was like. Imagine little Elvia. She 's at St. Edwards Catholic Church and School. She is quiet. Her first language is Spanish and it is what she speaks at home the most.…
How do people learn to read? When dissecting this idea, reading becomes comparable to a flower as it holds beauty, life, and growth, but it also shows when people forget to water. Although the flower will wilt and possibly die from lack of nurturing, there always remains hope of revival because flowers can regrow. Ultimately this reflects my major thoughts about literature, and how my journey consists of fallouts, but like a flower this concept of ‘death’ holds no barriers. The emphasis of starting anew builds upon why reading is important to me as I am rooted in the pages and always trying to expand myself.…
To be honest, when I was first given this assignment, I was worried. Although I enjoy books and love to hear people tell stories, I am not much of a reader. I use excuses such as, “I’m too busy.” or “I don’t have time.” to justify the reasons I don’t read more books.…