Module with Performance Tasks:
–What is Children’s Literature?/My Definition of Literacy
–Elements of Literature/My Slide Deck
–Literacies and Worldviews/”Book Club/Conversations” Note: Our conversations were also posted to the class wiki page on Blackboard.
–Workshop Methods/Videos Reactions
–Literature and Read Alouds/Reflection on Effective Read Alouds
–Poetry/Reflection on the Poetry Module
–Picture Books/Reflections Note: (2 Posts are Linked Here)
–Fables/Reactions Note: This was the module I co-taught.
–Myths/Creating My Own Mythological Character
–Biography/Finding a Biography and Analysis
–Realistic Fiction/My Own Story Graphic Organizer and Picture
Book Reviews:
Book Review 2 Note: Book Reviews 1 and 2 are located/included within the same post.
Overall Wrap-Up/Reflection: I am so grateful that I took this course this semester. Although I changed my major to Early Childhood Education during this semester, I am so glad I was exposed to all of the material covered within this course and this section. Dr. McVerry and my fellow classmates (who taught some of the modules) did a great job incorporating big ideas and information/knowledge that will surely benefit me as a teacher and educator. We have children’s minds on the line when we teach and we must do many things including what I like to call “Emma’s Four E’s” of Excite, Educate, Empower, and Encourage our students. Reading and literacy are super critical and foundational to student success and I am so, as I said, grateful I had the opportunity to take this class when I did. Being a good and effective teacher may be hard work, but it is all worth it times a million and I am all the more excited to teach now! I feel better prepared for my practice as a teacher too. I have already started to incorporate these skills I have acquired in Jumpstart too (as a Team Leader) and I believe my students will keep on growing and learning just as I continue to evolve, grow, and learn. As they say, knowledge and education are truly power! Plus, I’d say they are the building blocks of growth!
