Original WebQuest for Professional Development in Literacy Instruction

written by

Pamela Petty, Ed. D.
Assistant Professor of Literacy
Department of Special Instructional Programs 
 Western Kentucky University

Kandy Smith
Doctoral Candidate, Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Curriculum, University of Louisville


Introduction

Do this. Do that.  Do this again. Do that again.  Teach phonics.  Don't teach phonics in isolation.  Direct instruction works best.  Teach everything in context.  Use this, use that.  Phonemic, fluency-quick, skill-sheet-sick, mandate-thick,  assessment-ICK! Put your left foot in, take your left foot out.  Smoke. Mirrors. Magic?  Need a magic wand?  A BREAK?? 

When legislation causes frustration, aggravation, (constipation?), and being a greeter at Wal-Mart is starting to look like a desirable occupational change, what IS a teacher to do?  When one ball team is being dragged all over the field/court (insert your preference of playing area here) it does what we need to do - call TIME OUT!  Welcome to a WebQuest that is a sports version of a huddle.  We are going to STOP being dragged around and take control of our own teaching destinies.  Let's put our heads together, figure out how to be "smarter than the average bear" and start to work our "teaching magic" in a way that allows us to use our TALENTS, our BRAINS, and our GUTS to really TEACH our students while being in compliance with all that is being demanded of teachers in this most unusual politically charged climate.

Baseline:  Go here and complete an Anticipation Guide for this Professional Development training. 

Tasks

Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4 Task 5
•
•
•
 Phonics Skills Fluency Vocabulary Instruction
 		 Comprehension

General Reading Resources

30 Years of Research:  What we now Know about how Children Learn to Read:  http://daisy.ym.edu.tw/~jrlee/30years.html
        A synthesis of research on reading from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development commissioned by The Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning with funding support from the Pacific Bell Foundation.

IRA - Evidence Based Reading Instruction:  http://www.reading.org/resources/issues/positions_evidence_based.html


Online examples, practice, tutorials and printable materials!

 

Evaluation

So, are you an EXCELLENT READING TEACHER?  Do you feel better prepared to face the challenges of ensuring that EVERY child in your classroom is successful in advancing their literacy skills and becomes a LIFELONG LEARNER due to YOUR expertise as a teacher?  Evaluate yourself based on the International Reading Association's definition of an EXCELLENT READING TEACHER. 

        CLICK HERE:  Self-Assessment

http://www.reading.org/resources/issues/positions_excellent.html

Conclusion  (or the Theory of BE)

GO FORTH and BE not afraid of being the teacher you ARE and always have been.  Take the political climate and the accompanying mandates seriously and in moderation.  This too shall pass.  What will be your "constant" in all of this?  BEst practice ... BE positive ...BE smarter than the average bear (Boo-Boo), and BE the teacher you were born to BE!

"When you are being dragged, let go of the leash!"                                                                          anonymous

06/01/2005 10:48:44 PM -0500   Hit Counter