Chapter 10 Reflection

Chapter 10

                I really enjoyed reading the different approaches teachers took to teach their students the 6 traits of writing. They came from such diverse experiences is years and populations taught. This is something that I sometimes struggle to “fit in” with since I teach alternative education students from grade 7 to 12. These students are often in the same class and have very differently ability levels. This is part of the challenge of my job but it is one that I graciously embrace. I will take struggling to write and read over struggling to read any day but they often go hand in hand, but I digress.

                I took this class to meet Act 48 credit needs but wanted to take something meaningful, not just something to fill in the credit need. Writing has been one of my favorite activities since grade school. I know that also came from having teachers that taught the process with enthusiasm and encouragement. I want to be that teacher for these students that hate everything about school, especially the reading and writing. This chapter instills that this is possible at any level of teaching and level of student. I am not a very seasoned teacher having only taught 4 years and had a non-traditional way of coming into teaching Language Arts. While I value the life experiences that I bring to my classroom, I am sometimes left second guessing my how I am teaching my students certain areas. I didn't necessarily take specific techniques away from this chapter but it left me with confidence to teach my students writing the way that I feel they learn best.