Hello to the blogging world,
I must admit one thing first: I do not blog. I never have. To be honest, the idea of the world having an inside view to the rambling notions in my head is mildly terrifying. I tend to live in my own head-space most of the time. I was always a dreamer; I just preferred to keep those things to myself and not necessarily put my ideas out there for the world to see. However, those who know me, know that I am a serious Chatty Cathy. I love to talk, I'm a huge rambler, and I am more than happy to delve into in-depth topics - often to the point of exhaustion. That being said, I'll do my best to stick to the topic at hand - for the sanity of my readers, as well as myself. On that note, this week's entry is to discuss English Language Arts (ELA) and how it appears in an Elementary classroom. In order to discuss this, I'll have to reflect a little on my own childhood.
I LOVED Language Arts as a kid. I devoured books, I wrote stories - I spent most of my time in imaginary worlds, and without even realizing it, I was using Language Arts skills. How did I know the foundations of writing, reading, spelling, sentence structure, and so forth? Well, we learned all those things in the classroom, and more often than not, they were under the guise of fun, energizing activities. From even the earliest years, we were surrounded by those fundamental principles that allowed us to grow and experience through both structured and creative means.
If I had to think how Language Arts appears in the classroom - or rather, how I would like it to appear - I would immediately transport myself back to my own Kindergarten and Grade 1 classes. There were bright colours, students' work pinned on the walls, stations set up with reading chairs, free carpet space, and more books than you could possibly imagine. Do I credit those early classroom environments with my love of Language Arts? Absolutely. As a student just learning how to transform myself into the role of teacher, I recognize how influential the classroom environment was in shaping my learning experience.
I think the most interesting thing I've come to reflect on after beginning this program is just how far-reaching the Language Arts are. It is not just the act of reading or writing, but listening and speaking, along with viewing and representing ideas through a variety of forms. ELA is fundamental to all activities in the classroom - from the more structured lessons, to the creative freedom of arts and crafts projects. It provides a means of communicating ourselves and our ideals in visual, written and oral forms, which leaves it completely open to interpretation and practice. In that regard, it may seem overwhelming to think that it will be our (aka the future teachers'!) responsibility to ensure these kids have the fundamentals necessary to develop their own identity in writing, reading, presenting and so forth. However, as challenging as it will be, I cannot wait to see the rewards. These next few months will be a learning process for us all, but if it means I am ever closer to getting the chance to set up a room with colourful, bright, energetic posters, and sit on a big carpet with all the kids as we read a story together, it will be entirely worth it.
