Peer Blogs and Article Response

          This week, I chose to read and respond to Jaide and Isha's blogs.  Isha is new to our class, and I do not know that much about Jaide.  Jaide and I have a lot in common.  She has a little brother as I have two, Luke and Trace.  We also both went to nursing school and are interested in photography.  Isha and I both have moms who have been in education for many years.  I also did not know that Isha has two children.  I am willing to bet that we're all happy to be in senior block, and graduation day is finally in sight!
          I think the article, "Writing to learn across the curriculum: Tools for comprehension in content area classes", can be used as a great reference tool in the future when I teach.  The article focuses on how writing to learn is different fron learning to write.  While learning to write focuses more on grammar and the procedures associated with language, writing to learn focuses on improving comprehension and reinforcing student learning.  This article offers multiple strategies that assist students in writing to learn.  For example, one of the strategies that stood out to me is the use of word maps.  This strategy asks three simple questions: "What is it?" "What is it like?" and "What are some examples?"  This is an effective and creative way of leaning new content.  Quick writes are another beneficial strategy mentioned in the article.  I have experience with quick writes in the classroom and have observed students doing them as well.  This is when the students are given the opportunity to explain what they know about a given topic in a few sentences.  Overall, I believe that writing to learn can be implemented across the curriculum and grade levels.  Most of the strategies associated with writing to learn can be implemented fairly easily.  Topics for using the strategies in the article are nearly limitless.  I believe that writing to learn is something I will definitely include in the future within my classroom. 

CIR 411 Class Blog

Introduction and Response to the Syllabus

I’m Kaitlin Smith.  I live in Sweetwater with my husband, Russ.  We will both be very glad when I finally graduate and get a “real” job!  We have a dog named Bonnie who runs the house.  I love anything outdoors, especially fishing and hunting.  I'm looking forward to great dove and alligator seasons again this year!  I spent four years at Jones County Junior College majoring in nursing and later changed to elementary education.  I graduated with an Associate’s degree and then came to USM to pursue my B.S. degree in elementary education.  I’ve always loved working with children.  I currently substitute teach for local schools, teach a first through third grade Sunday school class, and occasionally babysit.  Children are my favorite people to be around, especially third graders. 

          There were a few things in the syllabus that stood out to me.  One is that no late work is accepted.  The next is the blog that we are required to post every week and the three major projects required for the course.  I like and appreciate the detail and rubrics given for the assignments.  I think that the course is going to be interesting and rich in literacy content.  I am excited about the group work in the Elizabethtown project; it seems like it will be beneficial to our learning.  I’m a little hesitant about the mulitgenre project because I’m not exactly sure how to approach the assignment.  As the semester progresses, I will probably have a few questions about our future assignments.

Russ and I

Our dog, Bonnie