Reflection- Erin Abreo
As I think back on my semester in English 341 only positive thoughts come to mind. I have never experienced a class that has such an online element to it without being an online class. I am used to just going through the motions of going to class taking notes, going home and studying that I think I started to turn into a robot. This class really shook me out of that state. It has opened my eyes to the possibilities one can create with an online element to their teaching and also has given me more than enough understanding of how I can create a community of readers in my class and really encourage my students to learn to love to read. I remembering thinking at the beginning of the semester, when asked to reflect of our thought of school and our habits of reading, that I used to love to read then I just lost that desire as I was forced to read more textual books throughout my schooling. I can honestly say today that I have rekindled that love to read and I am truly excited for this summer to catch up on all that I have missed out on. I have you to thank for that Kim Jaxon!!
We have gone through so many different styles of books this semester and although some of them were more enjoyable than other’s I can definitely say each book choice I made has given me the knowledge of how I could present that book genre or specific book to a child that might want to read it. I believe this class has really shown me the importance of reading books that your students might be reading themselves. If you can’t truly recommend a book to a child they probably aren’t going to have a real close connection to wanting to read that book overall. I have never read a graphic novel in my life, until now and I am actually glad I did, not so much because I enjoyed it myself but because I could definitively see how that type of book could inspire a child who might not love to read. Maybe they’re afraid of the “chapter book” layout and think reading has to be presented in the same monotonous layout. Well these books will really show them the diversity of books and that not everything has to have a bunch of words to it when reading. I work at an afterschool program and I know this type of book would really benefit certain children I have in my homework group. I also loved the fairytale books we read in class and I have come out with creative ideas on how to use this theme in a future class of mine. For instance, reading the story “kissing the witch” and showing how the fairytale characters are all connected could be a great prompt into having the children get creative and make their own stories on how the characters might be connected. Another book I know I could bring into my future classroom is the Weenies series. Those book also show that books don’t have to be “chapter books” and that short stories can also be fun to read. I would have benefited from a book like this when I was little because it provides gratification that “yes, you have finished a whole story.” It might not have been a whole book but it was something! This book selection also gave me some great ideas of how future students could create their own short stories and present them in fun ways like we did in our gallery walks.
Another thing I think was awesome that we can take away from this class is the wix site. Although it has taken me a lot to figure certain things out and it hasn’t been easy, it has provided me with a professional way to showcase my teacher resources and link with different sites that have creative lesson ideas. I know even after I turn in this wix site I will be making corrections and adding things as I go because I have actually learned to like the idea of having such a readily accessible resource for when I become a teacher. I personally loved every aspect of this class and although sometimes, “specifically these last two”, I have forgot to do a blog, I have always gone to class and come out with great ideas and creative ways to help my future students to love to read. I now don’t feel overwhelmed to become a teacher but more so excited to share my knowledge and work with my students to help them keep or obtain their love for reading in the future! Thank you for such a wonderful semester everyone and I wish everyone the best on their journeys to becoming the talented teachers I know we all are!