Implementation: Week 4 at the Learning Academy

When I walked into the classroom on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, my ears were filled with the sound of students reciting math problems. Ms. Jameson had her students practicing their math problems as they were written. She had adapted Orton Gillingham prinicples to work with math as well instead of just language arts and writing! I was impressed at the efficiency the students did their work and quickly got it done. After the students finished, they began working on their Lexia assignments or on one of the two computers in the classrom. This was the first time I had seen the computers utitlized since the students all had iPads at their desks. Students were only playing word games on the computers, and I concluded this was because their Lexia wasn't working. Ms. Jameson's class has been having trouble with their Lexia and wifi since my first observation.

At 8:30 AM, Ms. Jameson had the students begin their Visual Drill for Orton Gillingham. They reviewed their syllable types (closed, open, etc.) and their vowel sounds. Both the long and short vowels were reviewed as well as the breve and macron so the students know how to show a long or short vowel. For a kinesthetic activity, I used a visual explanation I had learned in my OG class the previous evening to demonstrate to the students closed and open syllables. I took a beaded necklace and held it above my head in a straight line, like a macron. I told the students I am no longer Ms. Moore, I am an "o" and I said the letter name "o." As a side-walked towards the door, I kept my macron long and said the long "o" sound until I hit the door. Once I did that, I let the beaded necklace drop to form a breve as I, at the same time, changed to saying the short "o" sound. The students thought it was hilarious and now they had the visual of their student teacher running into the door to help them remember short and long vowels.

After they finished reviewing their syllable types and vowel sounds, they either read or finished their homework once they completed their assignnment. Students finished at their own paces and Ms. Jameson is excellent at allowing students to have the time they need to complete their assignments. Everyone finished in a timely manner, however, and Ms. Jameson reviewed their seat work with them and they all worked together as a class to figure out the answers. The review went in this fashion:

Ms. Jameson: "What's the word?"

Students: "Yet."

Ms. Jameson: "Open or closed"

Students: "Closed."

Extra line for hard vowels: "What sound does the vowel make?"

The students had to test out several of the words as they worked with new sounds they had learned that day or previously. Ms. Jameson made sure to keep an eye on all the students and praise good practices. My partner and I graded papers and written work for Ms. Jameson throughout this class period, so we got to examine our case studies' handwriting. Johnny writes fairly well in cursive now that he practices every day, but his print still needs work although he uses it when he's not promted to write in cursive.

After the students left for specials, Ms. Jameson, my partner, and I all got together and went over what needs to be done in our class. We worked on what we had observed and how we could all work better together. We spent nearly 40 minutes discussing how to work together and proper teaching practices. Ms. Jameson gives good advice for working with students who struggle because she struggles just like them. So, she understands what they are going through. I will never be able to understand that, but I try my hardest to work with them as best as I can.

Finally, before my partner and I left, Ms. Jameson told us that she was going to be working with her students on "Alien Talk." This has the students reading a series of lines of mixed up long and short vowels. If they read it fast enough, it sounds like alien talk. It's an excellent practice to use on students to get them used to seeing breve and macron and what they mean!

#week4 #ortongillinham #syllabletypes