Reflection of video

          I am amazed at how Sheila Owen runs her Kindergarten class, and the way she loves and cares for every student. I can see from the way that she runs her classroom that she is an amazing teacher! She has a diverse group of students, some with a vast knowledge of vocabulary and some with small knowledge of vocabulary.  As each student walks into the classroom in the morning she welcomes them good morning in their native language that they speak. This is very important in making each student feel very comfortable, and once they feel comfortable they can absorb much more in the lesson. She views each student in her class as reader and a writer that makes each student feel worthy about themselves. I also like the way that Sheila Owen teaches her students to be independent readers and writers which gives the students confidence in their reading and writing skills.

           Mrs. Owen starts off her class with literacy routine that include four steps of engaging the children every day. She starts off by read aloud, she reads to the students books that are hard for them to read, and thus this is stimulating discussion. Then she continues with shared reading, where Mrs. Owen pulls back a little bit and increases the role of her students, which gives the students a chance to grow into their own. In the next process by shared reading, Sheila pulls back even more, the students show the teacher what they know but she is there to help them scaffold their learning. They are doing most of their work on their own by now. The last step is independent reading, where they are completely on their own and she is just observing them. Thus, giving the children the feeling that they are succeeding with their reading and writing on their own. Mrs. Owen also uses a similar technique when it comes to writing, first there is interactive writing, where the students “share the pen” and independent writing where students get a chance to express themselves.

           Mrs. Owen’s idea of viewing her students as readers and writers is a phenomenal idea. She instills in the children an enjoyment and love for reading and writing!

I really enjoyed watching this video!