Dear Dr.
Jones,
I am really enjoying this class and
learning more than I could ever imagine!
This is my first semester of graduate school, and I feel I have acquired
countless activities and strategies to utilize in my own classroom (and we’re
only halfway through the semester!). I
chose this course, “Reading Improvement through Written Expression” because I
wanted to step outside my comfort zone.
I take pleasure in reading, but I struggle when it comes to
writing. My goal this semester is to
improve my writing and become a better writer, and I think this class
continuously supports me along the way.
One of the major themes this
semester is examining the connection between reading and writing. They
are recursive processes that influence and build upon one another; the more you
read the more proficient writer you become and vice versa. Reading and
writing require an individual to use their cognitive awareness to construct
meaning. Through our class readings and discussions, I have concluded
that we continually develop as readers and writers. There is always room
for improvement and learning. As an educator I believe we need to allow
for as much time as we can for reading and writing in the classroom, in order
to support our students as growing literacy learners. Overall, both
reading and writing allow one to reconsider, imagine, discover, and learn!
This course has provided me with numerous opportunities to fully transact
and engage in the writing process. Reflecting on my previous experiences,
I noticed I mainly wrote freely and did not think when I was writing.
However, now I have become a more “active” writer; this means I organize
my ideas beforehand, collaborate with my peers, synthesize information, then
write and refine. As a result my work reflects my growth as a writer, and
I am proud to share it with my professors and peers. It is important for me to set aside a
specific time frame to work; I work best in a quiet atmosphere because it
allows me to fully engage while reading or writing. This is essential in order to do well and
develop as both a student and a teacher.
I have learned and acquired various instructional strategies and
activities that I look forward to implementing in my future classroom. They will benefit not only me as a teacher,
but my students’ literacy skills (both in reading and writing) as well. Introducing students to journal writing is a
great way for them to develop their own voice and engage in what they are
reading. There is an array of journal
entries and texts I can utilize in the classroom in order to improve my
students’ reading fluency and comprehension.
I have also enjoyed learning about technology through the use of blogs,
wikis, word processors, etc. It is
important to me, as a literacy teacher, to expose my students to different
writing outlets and meet their interest and needs as a learner. My goal is to take risks inside the classroom
and step outside of my comfort zone because it is my professional
responsibility to be the best educator I can be.
I feel you are doing excellent with
supporting me as a learner, and I look forward to what is to come!
Sincerely,
Kelly
