Reflection: Christine Harrington
Chapter 3- TPACK in K-6 literacy education: It’s not that elementary!
I actually really enjoyed reading this chapter. For the first time in a while, it was information that was pertinent to teaching lower elementary students. It was comforting for me to read because a lot of what was suggested are ideas and strategies that I am already doing in my classroom.
As an educator for early elementary students, it is my primary goal to teach children how to read. I really liked the comment in the book that stated “for elementary students to become successful readers, teachers must have a thorough foundational knowledge of both reading and writing processes, and they must understand how these processes can be effectively taught in classrooms” (Moats, 1999; Ruddell, 2006). These would be the content and pedagogy portion of TPACK. There is lots to think about when teaching children to read. Some of the content knowledge necessary when teaching children to read include: language structure, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and composition. In order the acquire these skills and knowledge, it is the teachers responsibility to also be able to instruct students in the best way possible. This is the pedagogical knowledge. Educators must teach literacy as a developmental continuum, apply appropriate teaching methods and strategies while considering the diversity of learners and individual differences, create a supportive literacy environment that increases learners’ engagement, motivate student to read, and select and use a wide range of strategies and tools for assessment (AACTE Committee on Innovation and Technology (Editors) (2008). The idea of TPACK is to incorporate all aspects, content, pedagogy, and technology. I loved the developing fluency using predictable text technology piece. This is something I would actually attempt to do with my kindergarten children. It was an example based on the book It Looked Like Spilt Milk. Teachers gave their children a template and the children created a picture and filled in the one word missing from the template. The children had the opportunity to read each child’s printed out page for practice with fluency, word recognition, and comprehension. What a great idea! There were some ideas using Kidspiration, Kid Pix, and some online read aloud books. I know starfall.com has many read a long texts appropriate for younger elementary children. I believe pbskids.com does as well. We have the computer program Lexia that specifically works on phonological awareness skills necessary when teaching a child to read. The idea of TPACK is to integrate all three components: content, pedagogy, and technology into a literacy program to best teach children how to read. It is encouraging to know that I am, in fact, using all three TPACK components in my kindergarten literacy program.
Grades K-2 sites: http://pbskids.org - Learning games for young children
http://www.starfall.com -Literacy and reading activities for young children
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/langarts/techlit/tlindex.htm - Lesson plans for literacy and technology
http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/resources/elementary/soltechintegration.htm
Grades 3-6 sites:
http://instech.tusd.k12.az.us/balancedlit/handbook/BLMS/bltablems.htm - Tips for teaching reading to a struggling middle school student
http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/resources/elementary/soltechintegration.htm
Grades 6-8 sites:
http://lessonplanz.com/Lesson_Plans/Language_Arts/_Grades_6-8/index.shtml - Language Arts lessons for grades 6-8
Resource for Grades k-6:
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/reading/li300.htm
Information on literacy and technology
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I agree with you that you are integrating all three components in your kindergarten literacy program. TPACK is happening for you. The two Grade K-2 sites Starfall and pbskids are great sites. I have tag them and will use them with my granddaughter who is in first grade.
ReplyDeleteThe Middle School site had great information. Most middle and high school teachers don’t feel comfortable teaching reading strategies because they have not been trained on how to do it. Have you ever thought of offering a workshop in your school districts to middle school teachers?
The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory is one of my favorite sites. Critical Issue: Using Technology to Enhance Literacy Instruction does a great job on describing how to integrate technology in K-12 literacy settings. Maine Department of Education has a site called Literacy of ME http://www.literacyforme.org/LiteracyElements.html
You are a very talented teacher and clearly understand reading and writing strategies that work with kindergartens. When you stated, “I loved the developing fluency using predictable text technology piece.” The importance of understanding when to use technology to enhance the learning process is what it’s all about. I’m pleased that this chapter gave you encouragement and affirmed that what you are doing in your literacy program incorporates the three TPACK components.