Lindsey Layton Blog Post #6 (February): Routman Chapter 4: Teach with a Sense of Urgency

Lindsey Layton Blog Post #6 (February): Routman Chapter 4: Teach with a Sense of Urgency

            Chapter 4 was a very informative chapter that I found very interesting.  From the chapters, the words “teach with a sense of urgency means not teaching prompted by anxiety but rather about making every moment in the classroom count, about ensuring that our instruction engages students and moves them ahead, about using daily evaluations, and reflection to make wise teaching decisions” (p. 41).   I find these words to be vitally true in our profession.  As educators, we have to ensure that our students are learning and we also have to be able to reflect and modify instruction as needed.   To me, urgency means recognizing the needs of each student and being able to meet each of their needs. 

            This chapters also discusses the Optimal Learning Model and the four phases of learning that go along with it.  With this model, the teacher demonstrates and leads.  Gradually overtime, the student takes over the responsibility.  This helps to ensure that all students can understand their expectations and how each task should be completed.  As the students become more responsible, they are able to be held more accountable for their own learning.  This allow students to become more independent learners.

            I really enjoyed reading and reviewing the integrated lesson plan they had at the end of this chapter.  The integration of reading and writing has been very important in my own classroom and I really enjoyed reading and previewing another example of how to successfully integrate reading and writing together.