Assignment 2 - Reflection on Video

                It was approximately 12 seconds into the video when Ms. Owen stated how every student in her class comes in as a reader and a writer.  Ms. Owen very obviously has very high expectations for her students and believes that each and every one of them can and will succeed, regardless of what academic level the child is on. This is something that I feel is so important and crucial in any classroom, whether its early childhood, like the one we saw in the video, or any older elementary or even high school class. When the teacher shows the child the she believes the child will succeed, that belief in itself many times gives the child the confidence and will to keep on trying. Ms. Owen also mentions that she has many students on very different levels, some have very high vocabulary and reading skills, while are much less advanced. Dealing with various levels in one classroom can be very difficult, yet Ms. Owen states “we build the classroom based on every ones needs.”

                Another crucial element that Ms. Owen implements in her classroom is consistency, the children seem to know exactly what he expects from her and what to do for each of the daily activities. For example, I noticed that based on her goal that each child should become an independent reader, Ms. Owen has a specific literacy routine where her students can each grow and learn in different reading fashions. The fact the she reads to them is a great way to get each child use their listening skills and hear new words they couldn’t have read on their own.  She next has shared reading where the children have to be more attentive and actually read words that they recognize along with her. Another routine she does with them is guided reading where the child gets a book on their level to read on their own, this gives them the motivation to continue practicing their reading skills. Last the class has independent reading where they gain more and more independence in reading without any help. This whole system has a one goal; that each child should become the best reader he or she can be. Ms. Owen makes sure to balance out helping the children and stepping back to let them work on their own.  

                    I have noticed from my experiences working with different teachers, that the educators that have a goal for their students are usually the first ones to see the improvement and success in their classroom, even from those children that take longer to grasp information. So it’s not surprising that Ms. Owens students come home with such great reading skills, because very obviously this is her goal and she will do everything to make sure she reaches it!