Teelah Harris-Blog Post #3- Routman Chapter 4

After reading Chapter 4 "Teach with a Sense of Urgency," many of my thoughts about teaching were confirmed.  I like how Routman agrees that  expectations should be kept high for all learners.  I wholeheartedly believe this.  I think so often curriculum gets watered down by other factors.  When we as educators fail to uphold high expectations for our students, we are falling our students.  The Optimal Learning Model on pg. 45 of Reading Essentials is an example of a way to help have high expectations for all students.  Routman suggest, "Teachers increase the time they allot to shared and independent reading  and spend less time on guided reading."  I think that there can be a balance of both in the classroom.  Independent/shared reading is a very important component to balanced literacy, but guided reading groups are beneficial as well.  Just a good mixture of both makes my ELA block work best.  My students engage in independent reading/conferencing every day, while I try to meet with guided reading groups at least twice a week.   As the Optimal Model shows, the students' learning should gradually shift from dependent work.  The demonstration component that I see myself not correctly completing.  Usually when I start my lessons, I would model what Routman calls "shared demonstration" level.  I now understand the importance of the teacher having time to truly model during the "demonstration" component.  Finally, the Guided practice and practice is  the goal for all students.  Teachers then have allowed their students to get to a place of independence.  We as teachers begin to make better decisions for our students.  Just by reading this chapter, I can already think of better decisions that I need to make for the success of my students.  Teachers begin to "teach with a  sense of urgency" when we move our students from dependent learners to independent learners.  We begin to make the student learning a priority.  By modeling how to complete a specific skill and allotting time for learners to engage in shared demonstration, guided practice, and independent practice, we are creating lifelong learners.