Using reading and writing strategies in religious studies may help my students to become active learners, so as to acquire the habit of reflecting as well as practicing higher level of thinking. I believe that the role of academic literacy strategies should be discussed and studied at whole school level so that every teacher may contribute to make them part of the teaching and learning strategies practiced in a school. In other words, a well-rounded curriculum should integrate the responsibility of developing academic literacy in every class.
In my school we have just started discussions about literacy strategies. Actually, the process of changing our mental models progresses slowly. So thus, we know that our students are successful entering the best universities in the country. However, it seems that we receive more and more feedback that indicates us the need of reinforcing academic literacy development in our school. To some extent, former students are urging us to give more space to learning skills development that are necessary to succeed in a fast changing academic environment and work place as well. The remarkable content knowledge should be paired with remarkable learning skills.
As we can experience even by writing our blog entries and also through other written assignments, personal reading and writing help us to deepen our thinking and our capacity of expressing our thoughts. I can tell that, even though I am a novice English reader and writer, through my readings and short writing activities I can already experience the joy of progressing. Furthermore, I highly appreciate the opportunity of reading different views on the same educational topic or issue. This experience reinforces my belief that I have to make academic literacy development part of my teaching strategy. Actually, in religious studies reading and writing activities may open the mind of my students to engage with readings and issues that are actually connected to their every day experience. I appreciate the idea of scaffolding these activities; I think this is a crucial strategy in order to lead young readers and writers to experience success.
In my school we have just started discussions about literacy strategies. Actually, the process of changing our mental models progresses slowly. So thus, we know that our students are successful entering the best universities in the country. However, it seems that we receive more and more feedback that indicates us the need of reinforcing academic literacy development in our school. To some extent, former students are urging us to give more space to learning skills development that are necessary to succeed in a fast changing academic environment and work place as well. The remarkable content knowledge should be paired with remarkable learning skills.
As we can experience even by writing our blog entries and also through other written assignments, personal reading and writing help us to deepen our thinking and our capacity of expressing our thoughts. I can tell that, even though I am a novice English reader and writer, through my readings and short writing activities I can already experience the joy of progressing. Furthermore, I highly appreciate the opportunity of reading different views on the same educational topic or issue. This experience reinforces my belief that I have to make academic literacy development part of my teaching strategy. Actually, in religious studies reading and writing activities may open the mind of my students to engage with readings and issues that are actually connected to their every day experience. I appreciate the idea of scaffolding these activities; I think this is a crucial strategy in order to lead young readers and writers to experience success.
