So tonight I have realized that what we have been doing with the strategies in class have a direct link to the literature circles. Obviously, I knew the activities we have been doing each week were tied into the reading of the book, but now I see how I would be able to use the literature circles as a start to different units. Reading the book in the literature circle builds on the background knowledge for each group. Where I would go different, is to then split the class up into different groups so that each group has one person from each of the books to complete activities going further so that one person could lead the group during that weeks lessons. For example, I could select 4 or 5 biographies for students to complete the literature circle with and focus the plans for each week around each book just like we have done in class. And with each week, I could figure out how to use each book/topic across content to keep the students engaged while they continue to learn about each person (and other content). I feel like I should have picked up this sooner but I guess its better late than never.
The question about how learning the way we are in class versus how we learned in school seemed to be unanimous. I know there we answers given comparing the two but I think the biggest way to compare the two would be summed up easily with what Lynn said about self-direct teaching. Tonight is the first time I have heard that term used and I feel like it should be used more across the classes here at UR. I believe that one of the most important things I will do as a teacher is to be more of a guide that allows the students to learn as oppose to a person who gives the information to learn from. Making the learning engaging and giving the students some of (if not most of) ownership of their learning will be very beneficial in their success.
I was not a fan of the 4 reads activity. I felt like it was difficult for me to complete the tasks for some reason. I’m not sure if it had to do with the fact that we did it in groups and I was afraid that I was going to have something different from the group and was just too focused on that. Or maybe I was just thinking too hard but I will still be open to trying something like this. I think it is good to look at a document through different lenses in order to get all you can out of the document.