Interview with a classroom teacher

I interviewed a second grade teacher at my school. She has been teaching for 23 years in the DCPS school system. She shared that she feels literature plays a big part in the classroom curriculum. She states that doing daily read- alouds allow for the teacher to model phonics skills, intonation of the voice that children can then begin to use. She thinks the reading curriculum we are using, Houghton Mifflin is okay, but feels that there needs to be a change. She stated that she feels what was used when she first start teaching, was more effective and worked with students at their level. She feels that the curriculum used now does not help the struggling students to grasp the reading strategies and concepts. She does like the level readers that are available to students in each subject area and are based on different level readings. Ms. M stated she chooses supplemental books from scholastic, school library and going to the library where she lives. she is usually able to find children's books that have to do with the theme that she is on in reading. She wishes she had the autonomy that she had years ago of being able to have more choices and freedom to select the books that she would like the children to read. She stated that with all the mandates, standards requirements and restrictions she feels she is not able to be as creative in teaching "outside" the box as she once was. She feels that even though in theory as teachers we are suppose to differentiate instruction that the many constraints put on teachers has made it difficult. Ms. M theoretical perspective on using children's literature in the curriculum is vital to students learning and gain real world experiences through text. She believes that children should hear good literature and in different genres. She feels especially children who may not be exposed to to different events and culture activities. She feels that tying in field trips with the curriculum is a wonderful experience for children to get hands on experience. she feels that using rich children's literature can give children a broad spectrum of authors and give them insight into being able to question and make inferences about what they are reading. She has also found the have a print rich classroom helps the children to gain better listening and communication skills.

idea for my literary map podcast

The book that I have chosen for my podcast is Barack Obama, Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grimes. The book that I am choosing will reflect on the issue of race. The age level for this book is 5-11 years old and is a book that I have shared with my students. The public monument is the White House. And the poem that I will be using is a children's poem by Nikki Grimes. -Sabra