Observation Module 4

During the time I observed in the classroom, I was luckily to see the class having a mystery reader that day. The teacher gathered the children to the rug and told them that they had a mystery reader. The children were getting excited looking around the room to see who was there as the guest. The teacher reviewed with them what a mystery reader was. Some of the children answered, "when you don't know who it is". The teacher introduced one of the students aunt that came to visit. The aunt was able to choose any book she liked to read to the students. As the students aunt was reading the book she asked a few questions regarding the book. She spoke softly and made sure she answered almost every questions the children asked. After the book was read the student was able to take a picture with her aunt holding the book. The teacher would then print out the pictures and add them to the wall of "Mystery Reader".

I was able to speak with aunt about being a mystery reader. She said that the child's mom told her about the class having mystery readers in the class and that anyone was able to stop by at any time to read any book, it didn't matter how long or short. She decided to come up to the school to show her niece the importance of reading. She wanted to share with her something special as reading, not only to her but to her classmates also.  The aunt said that her niece like reading at home and she taught today was a good day to come up.

I asked the teacher how did she come up with the Mystery Reader? She said that a few years ago she had parents that wanted to come in and read but it was hard to schedule times and days for them to do so. While thinking of ways for family members to come up to read at anytime when she taught about being a mystery reader. She first had to explain to the students what mystery was. It was a great way to invite families to come up to read on their time. They are able to pick a book to read that's more comfortable to them.  As the years went by the wall of mystery reader has grown. She display all the pictures for everyone to see and it even encourage other members to come and read. Many of the children fuss at their family members to come and become a mystery reader.

The lucky student enjoyed hearing her aunt read a story in the classroom that day. She couldn't stop smiling. I also enjoyed the mystery reader that day. I beginning to see why we stick around the classroom for a few hours each model. Have I not came in that day I would have missed out on one activity that I can't wait to share with my own classroom one day.

Module 3

Now that I have a better understanding of what my advocacy plan will be I had to rename it to literacy.
For the last 2 weeks I observed the classroom having many things in and around it that deals with literacy. I noticed that before the children go to centers they must write out a plan. This plan consist of them thinking about where they would like to work and what they're going to do while in there. I also noticed that they do message time. This is a time when the teacher write on the board and the children are to read the daily message. She shows the children how to read from left to write. She pick students to come and circle sight words or letters they may know.  I asked her do the children do any independent reading in the class? She said before breakfast while the children are arriving they have book crates that they pick and choose their own book to read. The reading is around 10-15 minutes. It allows the students to come in and get settled and for her to prepare breakfast. I asked, how often do they write? She said, beside the morning sign in the students must sign their name if they want a turn at the computers. She also stated that they were having trouble with a messy bathroom and now the students must sign their name on the list for her to keep track of who was last. She stated that the children love signing their name on the list. They are able to not only read their names but their friends name as well. There was the normal seeing of books throughout the centers, word wall and labeling of things in the class.

One challenge I noticed while in the classroom is witnessing the teacher sending home books with book logs for the parents to read to their child and record how much their child enjoyed the book, the problem I seen was that some of the children either didn't bring a book back or no one read to them. I can see it being a problem getting the parents involved in activities outside of the home. We all know a successful outcome of a child's learning is if they can receive the same learning at home. So, with that, I'm wondering if their other strategies the teacher can come up with to better get the parents more involve in their child's work?