After reading Chapter 1 of the text, what do you feel is your responsibility with regard to the teaching of literacy in your secondary English or social studies or science or math class? Is that type of emphasis your responsibility and if so then what is your responsibility with regard to content?
Parents are a child's primary teachers, who shape the attitudes, values and behavior of their children before they ever arrive at a school. As such, they should remain the driving force in their children's lives, encouraging their education and literacy. However, since not every parent is able or willing to encourage literacy at home, teachers stand in loco parentis to assist students in developing the literacy necessary for a quality education. T.S. Eliot warned against replacing parents in education, and his point is an essential one; teachers should remain in partnership with parents and there to provide assistance, not assume a role.
ReplyDeleteAn effective teacher, however, must ensure that their students have the literacy skills necessary to be able to meet and exceed their potential as students and in their lives beyond school. Teachers must be able to adapt and differentiate for their increasingly diverse and special needs students, and not only prepare them for life, but nurture and grow a love of learning. This means that no matter the subject matter, be it the arts, humanities or sciences, teachers must be able to introduce appropriate literary content and be able to guide their students in the comprehension of said materials. To do so, the teacher must know their own content, know their students well enough to be able to adapt, differentiate and create necessary materials, be able to assist students in reaching high standards, and be able to actively engage students. In partnership with parents or guardians, teachers have the responsibility to help their students become life-long literate learners.