Some+things+we+know+about+teaching+middle+grades+English+language+arts


 * Our Voices... **


 * I know that there are numerous ways to convince students that reading and writing are not actually boring and so typical to what they have experienced in years past. There are many creative ways to teach young adult literature, along with proper writing skills, without having students repeat activities for each unit. Moreover, I know that there are many different types of learners and ability levels, therefore one must adapt lessons and ways of teaching to appeal to all students. I know that motivation and class involvement will be huge factors in the classroom and must be tackled to ensure learning because many students have the wrong impression of language arts. Furthermore, I know that literacy is extremely important, especially with the development of the students writing and comprehension.
 * Through my few years at State, I’ve learned a lot about teaching middle grades, but I feel like I have learned mostly about what to expect from your students and the importance of relating to your students…
 * I think middle school is the perfect fit for me because I did have those stereotypical awkward years that people associate with middle school; therefore, I think I can relate to my students and what they might be going through.
 * I know that there are numerous ways to convince students that reading and writing are not actually boring and so typical to what they have experienced in years past. There are many creative ways to teach young adult literature, along with proper writing skills, without having students repeat activities for each unit.
 * I know that there are many different types of learners and ability levels, therefore one must adapt lessons and ways of teaching to appeal to all students. I know that motivation and class involvement will be huge factors in the classroom and must be tackled to ensure learning because many students have the wrong impression of language arts.
 * I know that literacy is extremely important, especially with the development of the students writing and comprehension.
 * The importance of using a variety of methods when it comes to writing and reading because every student is different when it comes to learning. I think it helped to evaluate the positive effects of using certain methods in some of our classes, and also to try out the methods on ourselves. I know it is going to be challenging to get students interested in reading and writing, but I have discovered it can be easier if you can tie the subject/topic in with something related to the students’ interests.
 * Things I know about teaching middle school language arts: it isn’t easy, but it is fun! I know that I’ll be covering material like grammar, reading stories, teaching vocabulary, writing papers, reading papers, teaching about the different genres of literature, etc. … I know that in teaching language arts (like other subjects) there is a variety of activities, technologies, and strategies to keep students entertained and engaged.
 * I know that it is important to utilize creativity when reading and learning about literature. The adolescent classroom is full of thriving young minds that burst with uniqueness and imagination, which must be accommodated through daily lessons. … I learned that writing is a work in progress and that there is always room for improvement in writings. Also, teaching reading does not only include graphics full of lengthy words and paragraphs, but comprise of graphic novels with artistic and colorful pictures as well.
 * I feel that within a language arts course I would be able to provide much of the foundational knowledge that many students will need to be successful English students in the future. Additionally, I feel I have a good grasp of reading comprehension and writing strategies.
 * I feel like I have learned so much about teaching middle grades English Language Arts that it is hard to touch on just a few main things, but I will try. One big thing that I have learned is that middle school students like to relate what they are learning to their everyday life. I also learned that comprehension is extremely important in language arts. There a ton of strategies for reading comprehension that I learned about in ECI 306. I also know that kids love having choices. Offering students a selection of books to choose from will help keep them interested and motivated. I learned that using a variety of texts, such as graphic novels in addition to textbooks and novels is also a great way to keep kids interested in the content. Some students learn better visually and graphic novels could really help students with the comprehension of a subject.
 * I also think using literature circles in a language arts classroom is an excellent way for students to learn from each other and share their thoughts and ideas about the book they are reading or just finished reading. Another big thing that I learned was that revision is a process and so is editing. Students like to see their teacher write along with them and when the teacher shares his/her work, it inspires students to do so as well.
 * I know there is a lot of room to be creative and read a great amount of literature. I love reading books and I hope to share this with my students.
 * I learned that kids don’t really like poetry, but with the right tools and a little bit of direction, they soon will enjoy it. I know that middle schoolers start to read novels and stories and have to write essays about them. The object of these essays is to connect with what they learned in the classroom with their own personal experiences and the real world. Students in each grade level are reading fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama pieces, in order to fully encompass the reading experience. During this time, middle schoolers are learning about problem-solution essays, as well as argumentative papers. At this time, students are being taught about writing for specific audiences and purposes.
 * I could use many of the strategies I learned in ECI 306 class to teach reading to middle grades. I also learned how to do a specific unit plan for language arts in ECI 307, and I may use what I have planned in my future classroom.
 * I know, though, that it is my job to excite these young readers and to get them to read and comprehend a vast array of texts.
 * I know … that it is our job to expand the students from the first, second, third, and conclusion mentality. We are to start teaching them scholarly writing, persuasive, and creative writing. However, in the younger grades like 6th, we start by teaching them the typical paragraph structure. We are also to show students other forms of writing through literature and poetry.
 * I know that teaching English language arts will be a challenge. It will require me to be engrossed in various types of literature and my writing will need to be at the top of its game. I also know that it will be a lot of fun; there are so many opportunities to challenge students today and I am so excited to be on the opposite side of the classroom.
 * I have seen that not every student is excited about English language arts class. Not every student is excited about learning in general. Some students will step into a classroom without having all of the necessary or acquired skills as some of the others. Their focus on learning is not there and can make it challenging for them as well as the teacher. When this is the case, I feel like learning needs to have a “hook”. A hook can be anything that a student can relate to, that interests them, or that makes them want to read more. It can be a sport, a celebrity, a certain country, or even a hobby that motivates them. Relating to students and their interests can help teachers to get on their students’ level and really open their eyes to what reading can do for them.
 * Because of the experience I have teaching Sunday school and being a camp director, I feel like I know how to work with a student in a successful way. When teaching my Sunday school classes, I used many of the writing tools and reading tools that I learned in my ECI courses during last semester. I think I am comfortable standing in front of a class and being a natural leader.
 * I know it is important to be the kind of teacher that recognizes when things aren’t working and finds solutions to fix the problem. The various education classes I’ve taken at State have stressed the need for reflection when teaching and I fully concur.
 * I’ve also learned that direct instruction and employing strategies which are both demonstrated and practiced can help students better understand their lessons.
 * Creating a communal classroom with a focus on collaboration and a “workshop” class environment has been suggested. After working in such an environment myself, I believe it’s an optimal approach. Additionally, teaching students the skill of critical thinking is invaluable. Not only will it serve them well during their schooling, it will foster reasoning and hopefully assist them in making well-informed decisions throughout their lives.
 * Most of all, bringing a sense of energy, enthusiasm, and flexibility to the classroom is vital for a teacher to connect with the students.
 * I have learned about grading, keeping journals, peer review, how to decide about what kinds of assignments to give, how to incorporate technology in my classroom, strategies to check for understanding, and much more.
 * I know the multiple intelligences well and how important it is to incorporate different learning styles to help every child learn to the best of his or her abilities.
 * One of the most interesting things I've learned through my education class were the developmental and cognitive changes that middle schoolers go through and how that affects their work and relationships in school.
 * I know that to be a language arts teacher means you must know proper grammar. … I know in middle grades, students can either be excited or completely detached from school so to be an L.A. teacher, something people don’t think they need because they already know English, the teacher must make it exciting and be creative. In middle school we can really shape the way our students will be writing and interpreting literature.
 * I know that there are beneficial methods and strategies to use in the classroom. These methods and strategies help students comprehend what they read in textbooks, articles, and novels. Also, there are helpful methods to see growth in a student’s writing performance. I specifically remember in ECI 306 creating lesson plans for reading strategies. In addition, in ECI 307, I remember Duke and Sanchez describing ways to create student portfolios and student journals to help assess writing goals.
 * I know that I am meant to do it. There is no doubt in my mind that being a teacher is what I am meant to do. With every tutoring session, education class, and volunteer experience, my choice in being a middle school teacher has solidified. I know that middle school students are brilliant, hilarious, and loving. I know teaching English is far more than teaching novels, that it involves working with the students to dive into the story plots together. I know that teaching middle grades English is not for the faint-hearted and that it will be a challenge, but it is where I belong.