Shiela Owens' Classroom
Shiela Owens' classroom is a literacy-rich environment filled with fun and empowering activities for her ambitious kindergarten readers and writers. Her goal is to help her students learn to read and write independently and she uses various methods and techniques to achieve that goal. She provides a seamless curriculum between reading and writing and uses scaffolding to tap into and expand her students' fullest potential.
First she does a read-aloud with the class, opting for a book that would be challenging for the children to read on their own but stimulating enough for a group conversation and to maintain their interest in the story. While she reads the story, she asks relevant questions and connects the story to the children's real lives.
Next she continues to shared reading where she reads together with the whole class from the board. She uses this opportunity to point out new rules they've learned about sentence structure and grammar, such as punctuation. I found it interesting how she created a technique for harder words called the "bubble gum trick" where they stretched out the word to isolate each sound, making it easier to identify the letters that spell it.
Through guided reading, children can tap out their own reading abilities, while their teacher hovers near to offer any help they might still need. Finally, with independent reading, students demonstrate their mastery over reading and Ms. Owens observes and assesses their progress.
In writing, too, the class first writes together, and then the children each set out to write on their own. To complete the cycle, the children get to sit in the "Author's chair," and read with the class what they've written.
Ms. Owens' classroom also has literacy centers, where the children can engage in various exciting activities that promote their reading and writing skills. She also works with small groups to be able to better focus on each child's level in teaching literacy skills.
Shiela Owens is truly a master in her work. She sets realistic, though high, expectations, and supports her students all the way through to achieve them.
First she does a read-aloud with the class, opting for a book that would be challenging for the children to read on their own but stimulating enough for a group conversation and to maintain their interest in the story. While she reads the story, she asks relevant questions and connects the story to the children's real lives.
Next she continues to shared reading where she reads together with the whole class from the board. She uses this opportunity to point out new rules they've learned about sentence structure and grammar, such as punctuation. I found it interesting how she created a technique for harder words called the "bubble gum trick" where they stretched out the word to isolate each sound, making it easier to identify the letters that spell it.
Through guided reading, children can tap out their own reading abilities, while their teacher hovers near to offer any help they might still need. Finally, with independent reading, students demonstrate their mastery over reading and Ms. Owens observes and assesses their progress.
In writing, too, the class first writes together, and then the children each set out to write on their own. To complete the cycle, the children get to sit in the "Author's chair," and read with the class what they've written.
Ms. Owens' classroom also has literacy centers, where the children can engage in various exciting activities that promote their reading and writing skills. She also works with small groups to be able to better focus on each child's level in teaching literacy skills.
Shiela Owens is truly a master in her work. She sets realistic, though high, expectations, and supports her students all the way through to achieve them.
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