1.  Four major strands of work

     Communication – Communication is the most important and yet the most difficult part of any class whether you are teaching or the student.  I do not believe that this has been a major problem in this class.  It has been difficult with all the movement that is required when holding a class off campus. 

     Research  - I appreciated doing the research for my literary element.  I even used my daughter as a resource and she gave me some information.  I enjoyed looking for poetry to use as examples of my genre and the literary elements.

     Technology – I am still learning about the ever changing technology.  I am becoming more proficient the more I use it. 

     Collaboration  - The class has collaborated well in the class and at Ms. Smith’s class

2.  Five dimensions of learning

     Confidence and independence – Experience helps build confidence and independence.  As I get older I feel that I gain confidence and independence.  It doesn’t mean that I am right just that I have more confidence.  You will see this in many of your students as the school year progresses. 

     Knowledge content – It has been wonderful to actually have the time to read books.  I have read children books that are unlike the ones I usually read.  I usually do not read fantasy stories.  I now have a small repertoire of fantasy stories that I can recommend or discuss with students. 

     I have studied literary elements many years ago but forget the terms because I haven’t used them.  This is a great refresher course for literary terms. 

     Skills and Strategies – The use of literature circles in the classroom has always been an interest.  I taught 3^rd grade and I never seemed to have the time to teach them the independence and leadership that is required to achieve a literature circle.  This is a great opportunity to be part of a literature circle and see how it progresses.

     Use of prior and emerging experience – Literature is always changing.  I love the fact that there is so much more non fiction picture books and easy readers that are available than when I started teaching which has been many years. 

     Critical Reflection – I need to step back and consider the situation critically and analytically. 

Midterm Evaluation

Estimated evaluation in terms of grade – I surmise that I am working on an A+.  I have adhered to all the timelines.  I have attempted to learn and develop across the five dimensions of learning and course strands.   As my other classes and personal live become more involved, there is a possibility that I could slip to an A.  I will need to put the time required to continue to meet the requirements of an A+.  I will make an effort to find the time.

Suggestions for your further development during remainder of semester – To develop further in the remainder of the semester I will need to work on the author focus and illustrator focus.  My children’s literature web resources page needs some sites sited.   And of course I need to continue reading the children’s stories.

Final Summary

Four major strands of work:

1.  Communication is an important tool.  Using your communications skills in the classroom will help the students to understand stories and the many parts of a story.  Using communication both oral and visual is very beneficial.  Oral communication includes reading stories aloud, story telling and acting. Visual is very prominent is the use of technology.

2.  Research is used as a tool for keeping abreast of the latest children’s literature information.  Certain organizations are very involved in helping the classroom teacher and reading teacher understand what is happening in other parts of the country.  It helps teachers know what is working and what isn’t and why it isn’t working.

3.  Technology is a wonderful tool for teachers to use in the classroom.  More and more technology is becoming available for the teachers.  If you keep informed about what can be used in your situation it can make teaching more enjoyable for the children and the teacher.  The hardest part is being able to use the computer and all its attachments correctly. 

4.  Collaboration with other teachers can make teaching so much easier.  Teacher have some great ideas that they have used and that work and some will tell you what sounds good but doesn’t work very well.  Collaboration with parents can also be useful.  If you are doing reading groups or literature circles having another adult in the classroom to work with that one group that needs more one – on – one attention can be a very useful.

Five Dimensions of Learning

1.  Confidence and independence.  I feel more confident about doing literature circles.  I have learned about what it takes to get a literature circle going and how they mature as they work together.

2.  Knowledge content.  Researching an author and illustrator added to my knowledge of books.  It is always helpful to know authors and types of books they write so that you can recommend the books to your students.  Illustrators can be used in other places other that just reading.

3.  Skills and strategies.  Working with the sixth graders has been an enriching experience.  Helping them work through a book and to practice leadership skills has been illuminating.  The student’s character emerged as the school year progressed.  It is always a joy to see who they really are emerge. 

4.  Use of prior and emerging experiences. When you start a lesson you need an attention grabber.  Having lots of ideas to be able to use is an asset.  We did several of those recently.  Journaling is always a great way for students to express themselves.  Sometimes they will really connect with a book and be able to write a lot.  Sometimes the book will not have a personal effect and will have a difficult time writing.  I will try to remember to use more journaling with stories. 

5.  Critical Reflection (Critical Awareness)  As always talk less and listen more.

Final Evaluation

I believe that as a class we learned to work together to help the sixth graders to become a literature circle and to learn to predict, elaborate, clarify, question, summarize and connect while reading.  Not only did the sixth graders become a literature I believe that we did too. 

I have met all the requirements for an A in this class.