I have never been shy about my love for reading. My passion is quite evident whenever I am given the opportunity to talk about it. I have made it clear to every student I have ever worked with that reading is a gift. This reading capstone was challenging but ultimately very rewarding. I enjoyed analyzing my students' data, preparing and executing activities, and reflecting on their effectiveness. If there is one thing this program has taught me (above all else), it is how to be a reflective practitioner.
As I get closer to my final goal of a classroom all my own, I find myself pondering what that classroom will look like. What will it sound like? What will the energy be like? Will I find a way to reach all of my students? How will I accomplish it all? This reading capstone helped me to answer many of those burning questions. After working on this project, I know that my classroom will be rich with informational print and digital text. I know that I will use technology to aide my students whenever I can. As for what my classroom will sound like, this capstone has revealed to me that I like a louder classroom. I am drawn to the productive hum of Buddy Reading and cooperative learning. If someone were to walk into my future classroom, they would hear the hustle and bustle of exploration and discovery. The energy in my future classroom will be a positive one. My students will be a part of a classroom community where diversity of all varieties is celebrated. My classroom will be a place where joy can be sought and sorrow melts away. I will create a classroom community that is inviting, and I will do so through daily read alouds and the use of authentic texts. Bullying problem? Child of divorce? Natural disaster? Death of a loved one? There are amazing texts out there that can help make these devastating life experiences the smallest bit easier. I will reach my students by always taking the time to value what is important to them and making accommodations as needed. Differentiation of instruction is key! Finally, how will I accomplish it all? I believe this is the one question educators ask themselves more than any other. I will accomplish it all, because I have a strength, tenacity, and perseverance inside me that will rival the best. It has been an extremely long and arduous road getting here, and nothing is going to stop me now. This reading capstone has reinforced my love of reading and reiterated its importance in the classroom. It has given me the opportunity to try out new strategies and reach my students on a deeper level. After analyzing the STAR Reading data, I can see this test's value and how it can be used to differentiate and drive instruction. I look forward to using the experiences I have gained from this capstone to become a highly effective, hands-on educator. |