I know that every student is different. I know that this means every student learns differently than their peers do. As a teacher, this means that I need to take into consideration all of the ways that my students learn so that I differentiate my lessons to engage as many of them as possible. In my Literacy class, I have learned that there are six strands of English Language Arts. I believe that the more that I incorporate a variety of these into my classroom the more I will engage different styles of learners in my classroom. Listed below are the six different strands of English Language Arts.
1. Reading: Reader’s Theatre, author’s chair, reading circles, genre studies,
K-W-L, directed reading activities, grand conversations, etc.
2. Writing: freewriting, response journals, creative writing, writing for real audiences (editorials, letters, e-pals...), writing in role, scripts, etc.
3. Viewing: Films/videos, photographs, paintings, observation exercises
4. Speaking: debates, speeches, mini-lessons as “class expert”,
dramatic readings, dialogues, discussion, sermons...
5. Listening: interviewing, note taking, paraphrasing...
6. Representing: textual/non-textual projects which represent learning, for example, posters, 3 dimensional projects, dramatizations, art, music, etc.
All six of the strands are equally important for students to experience. It is likely that visual learners will excel in the strands of viewing and representing because that is how they like. Likewise, auditory learners will probably prefer the strands such a speaking because it is related to how they learn. Evidently, it is important to use as many of these stands as possible in the classroom.
1. Reading: Reader’s Theatre, author’s chair, reading circles, genre studies,
K-W-L, directed reading activities, grand conversations, etc.
2. Writing: freewriting, response journals, creative writing, writing for real audiences (editorials, letters, e-pals...), writing in role, scripts, etc.
3. Viewing: Films/videos, photographs, paintings, observation exercises
4. Speaking: debates, speeches, mini-lessons as “class expert”,
dramatic readings, dialogues, discussion, sermons...
5. Listening: interviewing, note taking, paraphrasing...
6. Representing: textual/non-textual projects which represent learning, for example, posters, 3 dimensional projects, dramatizations, art, music, etc.
All six of the strands are equally important for students to experience. It is likely that visual learners will excel in the strands of viewing and representing because that is how they like. Likewise, auditory learners will probably prefer the strands such a speaking because it is related to how they learn. Evidently, it is important to use as many of these stands as possible in the classroom.