Teacher+as+Reader+Journal+Entries

Teacher as Reader Journal Entry Questions

//Should English teachers teach Standard English or dialects of English?//

Teachers should provide their students the tools that they will need in order to succeed in life. In regards to teaching grammar and Standard English, I definitely feel that both should be taught and acknowledged in the classroom. This isn't to say however, that dialects of English are not important. In my future classroom, I ideally will have created a diverse curriculum that fairly incorporates several varieties of English. All varieties will be taught with the same worth; however, their differences will be analyzed and compared to one another. This will, in turn, will put into place my approach to multiculturalism within my curriculum.

//What makes a good reader?//

The phrase “good reader” is an ambiguous term in and of itself, but it certainly implies that our culture has distinguished good readers from bad readers. With that being said, I feel that a good reader isn’t necessarily someone who reads for quantity, but rather it’s someone who reads for quality. A good reader is also an individual who can read different types of literature and media, some of which including films, novels, poetry, rap lyrics, and newspaper articles. Finally, I would assume that a good reader is someone who appreciates the practice of reading, and articulates his/her experiences as a reader with others. I truly believe that a good reader understands the importance of literature circles, and their potential to enhance the entire reading experience.

//What have you discovered that has made you a better reader?//

The English classes that I have taken at the university level have definitely made me a better reader. My professors have a great __job__ in teaching me how to enrich my reading experiences through in-depth analyses of novels, poetry, films and much more. I have also been exposed to multicultural literature, which I know will help me enhance my curriculum when I have an English classroom of my own.

Careful attention to prescriptive and descriptive grammar has also made me a better reader. From my courses in linguistics, I have been able to better understand the rules of grammar and I how I can use grammatical structures to my advantage when writing. With a better understanding of these prescriptive and descriptive rules, I believe that I have become a better reader and writer.