I pulled students out of class one at a time for 15 minutes a day and read with them. We worked on reading and comprehension skills and I utilized strategies such as paired reading and text previewing. It is in this environment, within the mind's struggle, that true learning takes place. Providing the structure that promotes a student's sense of inquiry, develops critical thinking skills and provides ample opportunity to grapple with concepts and ideas is essential to the learning process. Inquiring students make better learners, which in turn, make better teachers.
Teachers are life-long learners, constantly engaged in inquiry.
The dynamic and unpredictable nature of the classroom forces a teacher to be constantly observing and assessing the details of all classroom activities. This type of vigilant and on-going inquiry is necessary to maintain a positive and engaging learning environment. Teachers must also be observant and reflective upon their own practices and pedagogy. Objective self-inquiry is critical to one's growth as an educator. The PLU Comprehensive Exam documents my ability to synthesize the theoretical and practical applications of course work, generalize from my studies, think critically, and make appropriate applications from educational research to professional development.