This week's class was interesting to see how utlizing strategy could be used in one's content area. It's good to see that I wasn't the only person to have trouble with this strategy. It is important to show students the correlation of what they are taught in the classroom to everyday life and/or experiences. Currently I am in a classroom and I always have kids say when will I ever use foreign language and I take this moment as a teachable moment bc of my own experiences. I told them I majored in Eco. and Finance, took some Spanish for an easy "A". My sister majore in Communications and Spanish. She originally took French in school. Her company sent her to France bc she was the only with knowledge in the language. She was able to use her HS language in her work experience. I would never have thought about becoming a teacher I was planning to go to law school. And look at me now a Foreign Language teacher. So i always tell them take in the knowledge because you will never know when you will use it.
I had to introduce them how to tell time in Spanish, I had to explain how to tell time military way, they all thought I was in a military. They were surprised that I retained this info since my Middle school teacher taught me in Spanish class bc in some countries they tell time in that manner. Again we are always taught something for a reason. When will we use it only time will tell.
Finding a utilizing strategy was a bit difficult, I chose to do the Project Journal. Again this is hard to use in the classroom bc Thanks to NCLB teachers at time do not do projects anymore until they are at the advance level. Teachers stick with curriculum far too often, and especially new teachers bc the dept. head is always overseeing them making sure they stay on task.
I nominate Eric to be our Sharpa :)