Department Meeting

• February 20, 2009 - (11:00 am - 12:00 pm) Kdg. Grade Level Meeting - Our media specialist does not sit in on grade level meetings because she has to teach classes for the entire day. Therefore, playing the role of media specialist, I got permission from my reading facilitator to conduct a reading workshop on our reading reform model (Direct Instruction). I attended kindergarten's planning time and went over general guidelines for teaching the scripted program. In addition, I told of how to incorporate vocubary building games into the lessons. The games I discussed were matching (concentration) using the lesson words and word bingo. Beyond incorporated vocabulary skill building games, I also discussed correction procedures, challenging parts of the reading program (i.e. - teaching the final-e rule), and conduction checkouts (reading tests in which children are timed and graded based on time and accuracy)

I felt that this "workshop" for teachers was important. Although to me I took on the role of the media specialist while conducting the workshop, at our school this is not totally true. The truth is that the media specialist is not involved in our reading reform program. The media specialist teaches computer classes but does not participate in teaching Direct Instruction. However, I have found out that at many Direct Instruction schools, the media specialist is also responsible for teaching reading. It seems like the media specialist and the reading facilitator should work a little closer. However, that is not how we do it at my site. Nevertheless, I have been working with both the media specialist and the reading facilitator and am learning a great deal about teaching reading, teaching computer classes, and managing the library.

• February 23, 2009 - (11:00 am - 12:00 pm) - Part 2 of the same workshop conducted on February 20, 2009.