Workshops....etc.

My experience with writers workshops and etc. have been limited to when I was in elementary school and i have not yet been able to teach one or participate in one since i have been college. I really do not like writer workshop because as a kid and now as an adult I am not a good writer and a lot of times things to do with writing, I do not understand it most of the time. I do think that they are definitely needed in the classroom and are a good thing but i think that something that teachers have to take in mind is the fact that some children are not going to be able to focus during these and some students do not work well with others. I do think that they give the "meat" to a student's learning. I have observed the 5th grade class that I am watching participating in writer workshops and readers workshop. The students do not really enjoy the process or from what I saw they seemed to not to pay attention and really did not care. I think that if you use these workshops and units, as a teacher you need to make them fun for the students.

Sahara's Special in my classroom

I would really like to use Sahara's Special in my classroom after reading it so far. The theme of the book is being labeled special. I think that characters play a big part in the story because the interactions of the characters make the story. I think that you could use this book to talk about differences and that it is okay to have differences from other classmates. I think that you could use this book to get children thinking about what they want to do in the future and to tell them nothing can hold you back from your dream, other than yourself. This could lead into a writing assignment to get the students to write about what they want to be when they grow up and what might they have to do to achieve it. It could be used during disability month, that many people do not know about which happens to be October. It could be a start that could lead into using journals in the classroom and encouraging the students to write what they want in there journals. I could have a big class discussion about what things that are different about people that they like. I could bring in other books that talk about writing or differences in learning. Just use the book to show that it is okay to learn differently.

half semester

I really like blogging when I remember to do it. I like to get my thoughts down so that other people can see and know them. I hope to continue wth the blogging after I get done with the class. I do think that there should be more blogs, if it is used in the classroom, but it is a good idea.