After only four weeks, I can see how the R3 program will be life changing for my "R3ers". After a shaky beginning, where both myself and the students were nervous, we've all embraced this new way of learning.
The first few weeks were about getting to know each other and retraining the "R3ers" brains to use positive self talk. The students have so many deeply entrenched ideas about themselves as readers, it will take some time for them to stop these automatic negative thoughts.
The oral based explorative way of teaching and learning has engaged the students; they feel part of the whole process and I am seeing a shift in their confidence and attitude to literacy learning.
The texts themselves excite the students. There is nothing better than having a student, who previously never read, ask to take the text home!
The blogging has been a wonderful tool for students to reflect on their learning in a fun way. They love the notion of being published authors. I can see how effective it would be in a whole class setting.
The structure of the lessons are great...though I'm still becoming accustomed to the timing. We have often got caught up in the excitement of a text or "job" and gone way over time. I would also love some further modelling of Reciprocal Teaching.
While I know there is a lot of work and learning to be done ahead of us it no longer daunts me as I can see the impact of R3. :-)
Thanks so much for your insightful comments, Jen. It's so exciting that you can see significant shifts in the students' attitudes and skills already.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you feel more confident with Reciprocal Teaching after this afternoon's session.