ReadWriteThink: Ideal for College Classrooms, too!

Several years ago when I heard that the International Reading Association would be sponsoring a new website, ReadWriteThink.org, I knew that I wanted to become involved in this project. At the outset, I became a reviewer of potential lesson plans for the website. Subsequently, I wrote several lesson plans that are now published on the site and developed some of the printouts and crossword puzzles. I have found that ReadWriteThink (RWT) is an excellent resource for me and my students, and we refer to it often in my courses. For several of the courses I teach, my students must write lesson plans to be used in demonstration lessons and during practicum placements. In the past, I found that they do not always include as much detail in the plans as I would like. Consequently, I include the URL of one my lesson plans in the text of my syllabus so that they can see the amount of detail that should be contained in pre-service teachers’ lesson plans. Not only does this help convey my expectations, but it also helps them view me as a teacher who models expectations. RWT’s Student Interactives is one of my favorite features of the site. My students view tools such as the “Word Family Sort” when discussing phonics and the “Timeline” when focusing on comprehension. The end result is that many of my students incorporate RWT in their practicum and student teaching placements, and ultimately, in their future classrooms. I recently asked my current students about their viewpoints towards RWT, and Karen’s comment is indicative of the value they gain from its use: I have learned as a teacher candidate that an important characteristic in a profession is the sharing of ideas and information to help ensure the overall success of that profession. ReadWriteThink.org is a wonderful resource that allows teachers and prospective teachers to access information that will improve classroom instruction. I recently used a lesson idea on the site to help me create a demo lesson for my lit instruction class. The lesson went over well, and the suggested book to use with the lesson tied it together beautifully. I do plan to use this in the classroom if I ever have the opportunity. (Karen Griffith, March 26, 2010).