Chapter 32: Story Reenactment

I choose this as my strategy because I have been a part of this method in a special education classroom and have seen the benefits of it. We as teachers/assistants would find a book to see if it had mulitple characters or objects that could be used. We would have our students ask for turns and then we would make a character hat. For the rest of the week, we used the props and reread the story everyday.

I would definitely use this in any classroom. Part of good reading and story telling is the concept of imagination and involvement in the story. I think you could use this strategy for any grade. In my classroom, my students could further develop this idea by expanding or changing the story. After doing this, they could find props or costumes and act it out.

I really don't forsee any obstacles to using this strategy. By acting out a story, it relieves the stress of reading for second language learners or students with special needs. I think that it would build comprehension of words and their appropriate meanings by putting it in a "real-life" situation. Students learn more when they are actively participating in the learning and this strategy effectively utilizes that idea.  I look forward to acting out stories in my classroom.

Chapter 19: Culture Studies

Culture is a significant and integral part of all my student's lives. Who they are, where they came from and the traditions they follow shape them into the student that I will have in my classroom. I choose Culture Studies as my teaching strategy. I think that using this strategy allows for a student to celebrate their heritage even in the classroom.

For students learning English, this strategy could be a positive motivator because it gives them the ability to share their culture in their native language. An example--if they were showing native dress, they could simply give the name of the attire and then perhaps translate it into English. This could also be a time when parents might be actively involved in showing their culture.

In my classroom, I would have my students make a family tree, then make the links to their different cultures.  Many students, including me, come from a wide variety of cultures, but family is a culture within itself. So I would have them look at what traditions, values, and previous cultures helped shape your family. I think that this could be a great activity in celebrating the student as an individual.

One drawback for my students could be if a child is adopted or lives in foster care. These students might have a difficult time accessing their family history. For these students, I would have them design their "own" culture, researching different traditions and then incorporating them into it. I think this could give them confindence in their ability to help shape and govern their own futures.

Culture Studies will be used in my classroom. I really liked this teaching strategy because it relates to the family dynamic and cultures that will enrich my life as a teacher.