Reflection Journal Questions · determination of credible research and instructional strategies in curricular and instructional decision-making. Discuss the implications of the National

Reflection Journal Foundations of Literacy

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Reflection Journal Questions

Foundations of Literacy Reflection Journal

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Overview: Reflection Journal Questions

Directions: Choose 2 of the prompts below and respond.

� Why is research literacy knowledge critical in guiding instructional decisions?

� Explain the process for evaluation of research articles by the reader (educator) for determination of credible research and instructional strategies in curricular and instructional decision-making.

� Discuss the implications of the National Reading Panel, Reading Next, and Writing Next

national reports in defining direction for curricular and instructional decisions. What surprises and opportunities did these reports provide for guiding your instruction?


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Module I: Reflection Journal Questions Directions: Here are three questions to which you will respond in your reflection. Choose one of the first two questions and then respond to question 3. 1. Think again of the strategies you use to teach the literacy process. Which ones are validated by the

research about effective literacy instruction?

2. To help students get off to a good start in early reading development, instruction should include:

• Activities to stimulate phonological awareness.

• Learning the names and sounds of the letters.

• Instruction and practice in reading words by blending letter sounds together.

• Opportunities to write meaningful sentences and stories using emerging spelling skills.

• Activities and discussion (oral language) to help students construct the meaning of what they read.

After reflecting about the research, what additional components do you need to add to your current practices?

3. How will the research in Module 1 inform your instructional practices in literacy instruction? Reference the research, and connect it to classroom application. Share validations, extensions, and additions to your current teaching practices.


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Module II: Reflection Journal Questions Choose one Reflection Journal question below and respond to it citing research from “Balanced and Integrated Literacy Instruction” in Module II.

1. Reflect upon a recent lesson plan implemented within your classroom. Using the key components of skilled/good readers within this module, describe how these components are addressed within the lesson. For those components needing more attention, how could you address them in future lessons?

2. Share your reactions to the Socratic Seminar strategy used within Module II. Explain how you might use the Socratic Seminar within your classroom to deepen conceptual knowledge. Connect the Socratic Seminar components to the characteristics of skilled/good readers.

3. Using the knowledge gained throughout this module, share your working definition of a balanced and integrated literacy approach. Connect your definition to the research within Module II and share how this definition will inform your future instructional practices.


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Module III: Reflection Journal Questions Choose one Reflection Journal question below and respond to it citing research knowledge and strategies from Oral Language and Vocabulary in Module III.

1. Reflect upon the oral language research covered within Module III. Describe how you currently incorporate activities to stimulate oral language acquisition within your classroom. What more can you do? Be specific.

2. During this module, many vocabulary teaching strategies were covered. Describe the most important insight within vocabulary instruction addressed in Module III. How will this insight strengthen the vocabulary instruction within your classroom?

3. Describe classroom strategies you will incorporate to enhance oral language and vocabulary within your classroom. Include strategies to enhance oral language and vocabulary for your ELL students.


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Module IV: Reflection Journal Questions Directions: Choose two Reflection Journal questions and respond to them citing research knowledge and strategies from Phonological Awareness - Module IV. Why is phonological awareness important to beginning reading instruction? Discuss oral language and vocabulary connections to phonological awareness. Analyze your current phonological awareness instructional practices. What strategies will you implement as a result of the research in Module IV? How do the Common Core Standards address phonological awareness?


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Module V: Reflection Journal Questions Directions: Choose one Reflection Journal question below and respond to it citing research knowledge and strategies from Phonics/Spelling - Module V.

1. Describe the connections between phonics, spelling, and writing reviewed within Module V. What teaching practices are you currently implementing that embed these connections? Describe a teaching strategy that uses these connections.

2. Think of a struggling reader within your current classroom who lacks phonics/spelling skills. How can you help this student overcome the reading barriers? Cite examples of research and research-based strategies within Module V to justify the

rationale behind the intervention you describe.


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Module VI: Reflection Journal Questions The difference in the amount of both in-class and out-of-class reading done by good and poor readers is enormous and this difference creates what has been termed The Matthew Effect. This means that those who have early reading skills tend to read a lot and acquire even more reading skills. Those with fewer skills, particularly at the early stages of learning to read, tend to acquire fewer and fewer skills over the same period of time. These differences produce large gaps in reading skill, word knowledge, and comprehension skills between the groups (Stanovich, 1986). Respond to two out of the three questions below.

1. Reflect upon the fluency research and strategies covered within this module. What surprised you? What opportunities will you have within your instruction because of the information gained? Identify fluency strategies you will incorporate into your teaching practices.

2. Emphasis on prosody within fluency instruction is important. Reflect on your current

prosody instruction. How will prosody be incorporated?

3. Discuss the connection of fluency to comprehension. Describe teaching practices that mirror this connection.


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Module VII: Reflection Journal Questions We have reviewed comprehension instruction research and research-based strategies throughout Module VII. You will reflect upon three of the questions below. Choose two of the questions sharing your reflections and the impact the information within Module VII will have upon your instruction. You will also answer Question 6 on Text Complexity and Common Core Standards.

1. Many research articles were read within this Module to deepen understanding of comprehension and comprehension strategies. Select the article that will have the most impact on your instruction and reflect upon the article’s implications for your teaching practices citing specific references to the article as you explain the rationale for article selection.

2. Describe the importance of prior knowledge and its connections to reading comprehension. What additional strategies will you add to your instruction for activating and building prior knowledge?

3. Reflect upon your present higher level questioning implementation. How did the questioning information within Module VII validate your existing practices? What more will you do to implement higher level questions?

4. Share your AHA’s from the article, Emerging Reading and Writing Strategies Using Technology. How will you use the Internet and various media services to improve student motivation in your classroom?

5. What are some before-reading, during-reading, or after-reading activities that you presently use in your classroom? Share which activity you will add to your current instruction from the Comprehension Center activity. How will you use it?

6. Reflect on the implications of the Common Core Standards to your existing teaching practices. What will you need to focus upon? How will you teach and give students the opportunity to be successful at reading complex text?


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Module VIII: Reflection Journal Questions Reflect upon all of the questions below.

1. What informal assessments do you use in your classroom? List them below in the categories that apply to your classroom within your grade level/content area. Briefly discuss how you use them to inform your instruction.

Oral Language Vocabulary Phonological Awareness Phonics/Spelling Fluency Comprehension

2. What formal assessments are used in your classroom/school? List them below. Briefly discuss how you use them to inform your instruction.

Oral Language Vocabulary Phonological Awareness Phonics/Spelling Fluency Comprehension

3. Describe the current intervention system in your classroom. Does it meet the need for

early, systematic, intensive intervention?


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Documents

Reflection Journal Questions · determination of credible research and instructional strategies in curricular and instructional decision-making. Discuss the implications of the National