Blog #6

I recently completed a literacy engagement using the "Article of the Week" strategy from Readicide. Since I am in a Computer Applications class, I found an Article in PC World magazine about the top 25 dates in computer history. I read aloud and some of the students read aloud and we discussed each segment of the article. The students seem to really enjoy it! I did a ticket out the door the next day asking for feedback on whether or not they enjoyed the class and why or why not. Every student said they liked it! One of the things that I liked about it was that I was able to get some great information about the students that read aloud. Some were good readers and did not need any help with the more difficult words and some stumbled about and mispronounced the words they did not know, etc. It is a great way to find out where your students are in their reading capabilities.

I have noticed that several of my students do not know how to skim the text for information. I have been giving some impromptu lessons on picking out key words and how to use the glossary. I have seen quite a bit of frustration in the students relating to this. They get frustrated and just guess when the answers are right in the book if they could figure out how to find them. I really feel I was able to help some of the students and it made me feel good, like I accomplished something that day.

In my own classroom,  I will definitely have a reading corner and I will use the "Article of the Week" strategy. I think it is a great way to connect what is being taught in my business education classroom with the real world. In addition, it will increase the students level of reading comprehension and help them become informed about current events and business world culture.