Journal Question #15

This entry answers #15 of the Reading Methods Journal

Brief reaction of your practicum experience as a whole, including any professional and spiritual insights that you gained

I have to say that I am incredibly thankful for my practicum placement. Mrs. Overstreet is an absolutely incredible teacher who does an excellent job of modeling and utilizing Balanced Literacy. She isn’t perfect, though, and that is why I love her. Many times she would come to me and repent for not completing her interactive writing lessons the textbook way, but she always had reasons for her modifications. It seemed that she was always thinking to herself “why would I, why wouldn’t I?” Many times the “Why would I or why wouldn’t I” was determined by the amount of time in the classroom. With frequent interruptions and the school day punctuated with specials, library time, and various assemblies, Mrs. Overstreet did all that she could to fit her instruction within the time that she was allotted.

I learned that relationship is the foundation for EVERYTHING in the classroom. As a teacher, knowing your kids, their strengths, challenges, learning styles, social tendencies, etc. is the absolute most important thing. I watched Mrs. Overstreet’s class transform over a span of 11 weeks from disorganized second graders to well-adjusted third graders. As I observed, I realized that the driving force behind this transformation was the relational tone that Mrs. Overstreet set in her class. By “relational tone” I am referring to the caring atmosphere that was set as Mrs. Overstreet built relationships with each and every one of her students. They had a deep respect for her because she had a deep respect for them. They respected me when I did my lessons because she had high expectations and they knew it. She fostered the growth of caring relationships in her class as she constantly reminded her students that they were in a “no judgment zone” and that no question or answer was silly or laughable. The students enjoyed learning because the teacher helped them see the importance behind it- the practicality of it all.

Mrs. Overstreet’s class was not a “textbook” class, and I don’t know that any class can be a “textbook” class because every child is different and ever need is unique. If I learned anything from all of the discussions and readings, it would be the following:


o Reading and Language are both incredibly important

o Children won’t be passionate about reading and writing if they don’t see a purpose behind it

o Children can’t see the purposes of anything until they are guided into the realization of that purpose

o Children are guided by those that they have relationships with

o Teachers who establish close relationships with their children earn respect and honor from their students


It all comes down to relationship. Read Alouds, Shared Readings, Interactive Writing Lessons, and any other lessons will be purposeless if the students are not willing to listen to their teacher. I have learned many things in Reading Methods, but I feel like that is the most important thing that I have learned.