12.3 Strategic Teaching

When and Where Did I Find It:   I found this term when reviewing our LTED 625 text,  Teaching Reading:  If Not Me Then Who? (Billmeyer & Barton, 1998,  p. 57).  Strategic teaching is the title of SECTION 3 of this book.  
Full citation 
Billmeyer, R. & Barton, M.L. (1998).  Teaching reading in the content areas:  If not me, then who? (2^nd ed.).  Aurora, CO:  Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory.  


What it means: The term strategic teaching is a term Billmeyer and Barton use to describe the decisions a purposeful teacher is constantly making when teaching.  They say,


"Teaching strategically means being purposeful and thoughtful about planning instruction.  It means analyzing how every aspect of the lesson will contribute to the instruction goal or objective.  It means selecting teaching and learning strategies that will enhance student learning.  It means helping students acquire the skills they need in order to be self-directed, independent learners.  
Specifically, teachers need to help students learn how to:
1.  prepare for learning through prereading activities;
2. ensure comprehension through the use of metacognitive strategies during reading; and 
3. extend and refine the new knowledge they aquire."  

                           (Billmeyer & Barton, 1998, p. 57, emphasis added)

Level of Familiarity: I know this term well.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?   Not only do I know this term well, but I certainly want to know this concept well.  Of particular note, is  the importance to recognize the distinct difference between strategic teaching and strategic learning/thinking. 

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...if so WHO and WHY?   I think for students to excel as strategic content area literacy teachers, they must understand the difference between strategic teaching and strategic thinking/learning.  While strategic teaching is often designed to facilitate and/or hone strategic thinking/learning; strategic thinking/learning CAN (and hopefully OFTEN) occurs without the assistance of strategic teaching.     Probably at the most basic level, I hope my LTED 625 students in particular see how the CONTENT AREA LITERACY MULTIGENRE PROJECT was designed to provide them with multiple opportunities to develop their strategic teaching knowledge and abilities.   

7.3 Guided Discussion

When and Where Did I Find It:   I found the term guided discussion when re-reading our text, Teaching Reading in the Content Areas:  If Not Me Then Who? (Billmeyer & Barton, 1998, pp. 49-50).

Full citation Billmeyer, R. & Barton, M.L. (1998).  Teaching reading in the content areas:  If not me, then who? (2^nd ed.).  Aurora, CO:  Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory.   

What it means: The authors give a very detailed definition of the term: "In guided discussion,the teacher uses questions or teacher-developed study guide materials to direct student thinking.  In addition to designing and posing questions, the teacher's role is to encourage student questions about the content and to provide additional information and clarification when needed (Vacca & Vacca, 1993)" (as cited in Billmeyer & Barton, p. 50). 

Level of Familiarity: I am very familiar with this concept, but what I find interesting is that even though I would say I have a great deal of experience with this concept, I still have to re-evaluate my ability to use this instructional strategy based on the specific students I am working with in every class as well as considering their level of familiarity (background knowledge) with the information I want them to know well.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?   Yes. I do not see how I could be qualified as a teacher of literacy (or a teacher of teachers, teaching literacy) if I do not have a principled understanding of what a guided discussion looks like and the reason why to use such an instructional strategy.      

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...if so WHO and WHY?:   I certainly think LTED 625 students should know this concept --especially since they noted in their Content Interest Inventories that they wanted to further develop their abilities to engage students in discussion.  I think part of knowing how to engage students in a STUDENT-led discussion requires having a detailed understanding of what takes place in a TEACHER-guided discussion and how to help the students take on the "traditional responsibilities" of the teacher.

4.1 Satiate

When and Where Did I Find It:   I found this word in our Fisher and Frey (2008) text, Word Wise & Content Rich.  The authors state, "Secondary students satiate very quickly on any one vocabulary activity, so we've found it helpful to get into the mindset of offering up a few different types of peer activities each week" (p. 65).

Full citation Fisher, D. & Frey, N. (2008).  Word wise & content rich:  Five essential steps to teacing academic vocabulary.  Portsmouth, NH:  Heinemann.

What it means: Most people think the word simply is a synonym for "to satisfy."  But there is a subtle, yet significance, with the meaning of this word generally and specifically with the way it is used in the context of the sentence where I found it.  According to Dictionary.Com the word means "(1) to supply with anything to excess, so as to disgust or weary;(2) to satisfy to the full; sate."     

Level of Familiarity: I am familiar with this concept, but I hadn't associated it with a factor to consider in instructional planning. 
   
Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?   Yes, I do think it is a great word to know -- just in terms of incorporating it into my general vocabulary.   However, I also think it is a useful term to use in this more specialized way, as Fisher and Frey have.


Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...if so WHO and WHY?:   I am curious to know if my LTED 625 students think this word provides a useful descriptor when considering students' level of engagement in the instructional activity at hand.   I am not sure I feel strongly that they SHOULD know this word, but I think it would be an interesting to hear their thoughts on this.   
Any of my LTED 625 readers have any opinions?