Overall, I
found Tovani’s “Do I Really Have to Teach Reading” to be hit or miss. I found some good strategies that I will
surely apply to my lesson plans; however, I felt there were far more misses for
my content. By that, as I stated in a previous
blog, this book would be great for someone who teaches reading and writing, or even
social studies and history. As for
science, I felt Tovani glossed over any useful strategies to help students
engage with the text in science.
Some helpful
learning strategies that I think will help from her book:
·
Students
should ask questions more often instead of just answering them.
·
Using
a double diary to help students remember equations and formulas, as well as
help students conceptualize through illustrating things like atoms and cells.
·
Giving
students direction with the text instead of just having them read everything.
·
Using
pictures to help struggling students, as well as ESL students comprehend ideas.
·
Show
kids how to discuss a topic, and make the students feel safe in doing so.

As for my experience with blogging in general? I sort of enjoyed messing around with
pictures and layouts. If I would have
had more time, I’m sure I could have made this blog pretty super-awesomeJ. However, I stick with
my original assertion, and that is I don’t really have much to say, and I can
hardly believe anyone would want to read it even if I did. Of course, I do like the idea of maybe
setting up some sort of blog for my students for homework assignments,
interesting facts, etc.