1. Four strands of work:
Communication: I feel by the end of the semester our communication as a class became more indepth. It
was really hard to really get into discussion because there was so much going on.
Research: Our literature circle group worked really hard at trying to give the studnents knowledge of resources
that they could access to learn more about WWII. I enjoyed finding an author and illustrator and learning more about
thier life.
Technology: I enjoyed having the webpage to post all of our work and reflections on. It makes it easier to
keep the work together and it also is easier to present. It saves trees by not having to use paper for all the assignments.
2. Five Dimensions of learning
Confidence and Independence: I really enjoyed the independence that we were giving to work with our literature
circle. We had to come up with the assignments as we will be doing when we are teachers.
Knowledge and Content: I am more comfortable with genres and literary elements. I wish we could have done
this early in the semester so we knew the genres for our book lists.
Skills and Strategies: Working with the literature circle had us learning about different strategies to get the
children talking and interacting with the book Night. We really enjoyed the keychain prompts. The students didn't
really open up, but they did talk.
Use of prior and emerging experience: I have always loved reading books, so to have a chance to go back in time
and read some of my all time favorite books, was so much fun. Children's books you don't have to think to deeply or
look for a deeper meaning the meaning is there in black and white.
Reflectiveness: I learned how to step out of my comfort zone and look inside myself for the confidence to teach
the literature circle and perform poetry.
Final Evaluation: I enjoyed learning the inner workings of a literature circle, I think that is the main focus
of this semester. We could have learned about a circle by the video, but to actually go into the classroom and have
the control to teach the students something was unforgettable. My suggestions I have already said, but I think it is
very helpful to know the genres early in the semester. As of right now, at the end of the semester I believe that I
have an 'A', I have performed all the assignments and have read over 100 books. I enjoyed this class and all that was
learned. Thank you!