A must read for teacher candidates! - Discussion as a Way of Teaching

 

The first assigned reading that my classmates and I have encountered is from Discussion as a Way of Teaching. Although I have only read a small piece of the book I am very intrigued! The first chapter, “Discussion in a Democratic Society”, caught my attention because it broke down discussion, conversation and dialogue. Throughout the education program we have had countless scenarios, tools, and tips thrown at us for the classroom, and having an article tie all three together in regards to discussion, an important tool, made the article good for teacher candidates. “How Discussion Helps Learning and Enlivens Classrooms” is a chapter that all teacher candidates should read while going through the program. Discussion is an important part of the classroom, and helps students find their own voice while allowing them to work together to explore literature. My personal experience as a teacher candidate in a new classroom proved that having the full attention of the classroom did not come easy. Using discussion in the classroom gives me the opportunity to allow a level of control for the students as well as myself. Discussion is based on the flow of the classroom, and the article shared a variety tips for using discussion and the benefits that come from discussion. Discussion encourages students to listen, to explore and to learn: each of which are individually important and I hope to see in my future classroom. I liked that the article broke down each of the benefits and explored obstacles that students and teachers may come across as well as how the discussion benefit will enhance student learning. An important benefit that I found myself completely intrigued by was that discussion affirms students as co creators of knowledge. This is important in the classroom because when students are discussing they are creating insight, validating and refuting claims that they find and are exposed to alternative perspectives from their peers in a whole class setting. This article was also helpful to the teacher candidate because it reminds the reader of why the teacher may lose faith in the use of discussion. When considering my future classroom I worry that I may have to high of expectations for classroom discussion. This article reminds the reader that participation is a lifelong learning project and that teachers need to not blame their students for lack of participation. The teacher needs to know when to take control, what questions to ask their students, and verbal cues to help students begin conversations. I would highly recommend this book to teacher candidates in any stage of the program.

Introduction Letter

Hi! My name is Breanne and I am working towards earning a Secondary English Major. I am currently enrolled in English 493: Teaching Literature to Adolescents, and as a part of the class I will be posting blogs about different readings that I will encounter. Along with attending college classes I am also working in a 9^th grade classroom through my teacher candidacy program. In this classroom I will be observing as well as regularly teaching the students. The first two periods of the day are a reading help based lecture where students will work in groups as well as individually with the teacher to insure they are understanding what they are being given to read in the classroom and comprehending the text after they have read it. Working with these students has shown me how important literature in an adolescent’s classroom can be because the skill of reading is influential in all other types of classrooms. The last periods of the day that I will be working in are freshman language arts. A variety of literature will be used in these classrooms as well, yet the students will not be getting the degree of one on one lecture with the teacher as the reading help students will. In the past week I have had the great opportunity to teach the language art students about fiction! My first lesson gave me a chance to discover possible strengths and weaknesses that I may have in my own classroom. A weakness that may make teaching literature in the classroom more difficult is, as my master teacher describes it, my lack of a big girl voice. Literature is an opportunity for students to discuss ideas and explore reading, which may also lead to side discussions and a rowdy classroom. My lack of a big girl voice makes pulling students back into the whole class discussion harder. Although this weakness may not relate specifically to literature it will still influence the time management for students to learn in the classroom. A strength that will help my when teaching literature to high school students was that I was able to ask probing questions in order to get the students thinking outside of the box. This will be important for classroom discussions and getting the students to form their own opinions about what they are reading. A goal that I have for my English 493 classroom is to discuss with my fellow classmates ways that I can improve my weaknesses in the classroom and ways to hold discussions in the classroom. At the end of my class I also hope to leave with a variety of literature that can relate to adolescents and motivate students to want to read in the classroom! Thanks!