My Goals for the Class and My Goals as a Writer

Goals can be big or small, take days or years, be surface-level or deep, etc. I know that, personally, I have multiple goals when it comes to this class on Child’s Literature and Literacy. However, I also have important goals when it comes to my writing. Below I have listed and explained my top five goals this semester. 

First of all, I want to understand fully how children make the connection between spoken words and literature (which includes books).  I am confident that knowing through and through and genuinely understanding how students learn to read and write will make me a better teacher. I want to understand the psychology of the brain and children’s development on a deeper level, too. Even if it means I will need to do my own research, I will do it because I feel this is super important. 

Another goal I have for this specific education course is to understand how to scaffold mini lessons and regular literacy lessons to meet the needs of my specific students.  In my opinion, effective teachers must scaffold their lessons because they realize that each student is an individual and learns at his/her own pace. 

A final, but major goal I have for this specific course is to understand how to best teach literacy, or which ways/methods work best for which specific students. And if, for whatever reason, I do not completely and entirely learn how to best teach literacy through this class, I will certainly conduct my own research. I am dedicated and devoted to this profession, and I would be letting down my future students if I did not prepare and do everything in my power to be the best educator I can be. 

Moving into my goals for my writing, I want to become a more succinct but thorough writer. I can have the tendency to go on and on and drift away from the main topic I am writing about, and writing can sometimes be challenging. However, I want to really hone in on good writing style and make my writing clearer than ever.

Another noteworthy goal I have for my writing this semester is to expand my vocabulary. A strong and expansive vocabulary, in my opinion, not only helps students and teachers in the school itself, but it also assists in life in general. When someone has a wonderful vocabulary, meaningful and deep conversations can take place, learning can happen more easily, people can connect on a greater level, and much more! 

As you can see, I have many goals for this course, but I tried my best to narrow it down to only five key goals. I cannot wait to start chipping away on my goals for myself and to see what I can accomplish in just a few short months!