A conversation with a colleague…

For the past six years I have dedicated my everything to my two boys. I have loved it all, but I would be lying if I said I didn't miss teaching. I have missed the students and the colleagues. I missed being in a learning environment with constant converstion and excitment.

When my oldest son started kindergarden last year I began school as well. I felt this was the perfect time to start on my quest of becoming a reading specialist. I thought this would help me achieve my goals and be helpful in teaching my son to read. Oh, I was wrong about the teacing my son part. I quickly learned that my teaching and his learning on some levels needed to stay seperate. All I was doing was frustrating my son and questioning my abilities.

Recently I had a chance speak with a colleague that I taught with when I first started teaching ten years ago. When I forst met her she was a verteran teacher, one that I really looked up to.  I asked her about teaching literacy. I mast say I was a bit surprised by her answer to my question. I realize now how much I have learned about teaching literacy, even if it's not to my son. 

The following is my interpretation of what this colleague stated. This is not a direct quote, rather a re-written account of what was said.

 “As an educator, what do you see as your philosophy of teaching literacy?

Throughout my teaching career, my philosophy of teaching literacy has changed with the times. I have taught for twenty years, so I have seen trends come and go and I have been a part trends that have worked, and ones that have not been as successful.

My “philosophy” is that to teach literacy successfully, you must teach to each student’s strength as much as possible. If some students learn from a more traditional phonics format, I will teach to that strength. If other students need a more holistic approach, I will teach to their strength I try to approach each student in a way that they can be most successful. This takes careful planning and a lot of work, but it has proven to be successful in my classroom.