The End is Near

This next week marks the last week at my placement. Oh how the time has flown by! I have learned so much and I know I can't even begin to create a list of those things. Yesterday I was able to volunteer at the MRA (Michigan Reading Association) conference in Grand Rapids. The conference hadn't even started and I was able to already learn so much and network for future jobs! Some things I learned at this Ted talk style lecture is that you have to ask the students what they want to do and what they are interested in. Making the class current and using topics that are relevant to these students lives is SO important. Using topics such as pop culture (aka an example is using the Bachelor to teach literature) captures students attention and gives students a voice. Something else I learned is that making reading a central priority in schools create creative and passionate students. Reading is something that is different for every student and can be the only individualized type of learning they can actually do. Meaning, using books to teach reading and writing strategies enables students to use the book of their choice to learn from and share their learning with classmates. Also, collaboration is essential with reading. Doing activities such as book talks helps students stay connected with text and create community in the classroom.

My students are amazing and have taught me a lot about teaching. I also have fell in love with middle school. One presenter noted that with middle schoolers you can still mold them. High schoolers are pretty set in their ways but middle school is when they are most vulnerable and your impact as a teacher is the most significant in those years.