Anna Johnson Blog Post 4- Routman Chapter 4 Teach with a Sense of Urgency

In this chapter, “teaching with a sense of urgency” Routman stresses the importance of making every moment in the classroom count, ensuring that our instruction engages students, having high expectaions for each student, and us as teachers reflecting on our own teaching decisions. Teaching with a sense of urgency makes you aware of the students in your class, their needs, and how to push them to the best of their ability.

What stuck out to me the most was the section about working toward independence. My students depend on me a lot during the day and have little independence with it comes to academics. Routman shared that students who remain dependent on a teacher for all feedback and confidence are limited in how much they can learn. When students have all the tools: strategies, confidence, knowledge…etc… to learn on their own, the responsibility shifts and changes from the teacher to the student. As teachers we always know what and how to teach, but it is just as important to provide the following: respect, joy, engagement, success, and encouragement. It takes all of these things to make continuous learning possible and for students to become more independent.

Routman discussed his top five things to do to ensure students become excellent readers

1.       Demonstrate that I am reader.

2.       Provide an excellent classroom library.

3.       Let students choose books when they want to read and give them time to read them.

4.       Teach strategies students need to know to process and understand text.

5.       Evaluate students regularly, giving them feedback and helping set goals.

Teaching students and keeping the high expectations are always priorities in my classroom. After reading this chapter it got me thinking to reflect back on my habits and practices. I need to incorporate my own reading life and model how I think, behave, and talk as a reader.