Literacy Response 2.1

Blog prompt: Reading Essentials Chapters 1, 2, 3: This section of the book is about the essential reading life. Pick a quote that strikes you as being important to your reading life as a teacher. Explain your choice and consider how it relates to your current teaching placement.

Response:
For this week's readings I've chosen to quote Regie Routman's idea of how and why we should find bonding opportunities with our students. Routman states, "Bonding depends on teaching that incorporates a learning model that assures success for all children. That is through demonstrations, invited participation, guided and independent practice, in an accepting and encouraging social and academic environment, students gradually become confident learners" (p. 13).

For me this quote speaks volumes to one particular experience I had just this last week during my first week back at my main placement.Thursdays are our reading buddy day and it just so happened that one student whom I've had a more difficult time bonding with was buddy-less. I quickly invited myself to be her buddy. I knew in the back of my mind that my time with her was crucial because our opportunity to bond had not yet happened. I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. As we headed out into the hallway to read a few of the books we selected I found her to be delightful. The one on one time was just what our student-teacher relationship needed. This was a positive experience for the both of us. She read to me and I read to her. I helped her to reflect on her favorite parts and I watched her as she created a drawing. I wanted to create a positive experience for her because I wanted her to know I care about her even though I havn't had the time to let her know.When we were reading together she frequently told me she couldn't read and that I should do it. Right away I knew that if I could create an inviting, accepting, and encouraging session with her that maybe her confidence would inspire her to give it a go, and she did! When she struggled, I told her that it was okay and when she read an entire sentence I modeled positive reinforcement.

I felt that our time together was successful in a number of ways. Eventhough our session was only fifteen minutes, it was exactly what we needed. I learned more about her as a person, and as a reader. Hopefully she learned that I am here to help her. I hope to have the opportunity to always take this experience as motivation.