Classroom Visits

A few weeks ago I presented at the Education Writer's Association, a national professional association for journalists who specialize in education. I participated in a panel called "Teaching Teachers to Teach Reading" and spoke about the preparation of teachers for the early grades of elementary school.

One of the questions from a reporter in the audience was about visiting classrooms and how to tell if a teacher has created a literacy-rich environment.

Those of us on the panel jumped on the question responding with things to look for: children's work displayed, vocabulary words posted, objects labeled, and classroom libraries located where children can easily reach a book and that include non-fiction and fiction books. All important things.

After the panel, I started thinking about reporters visiting classrooms and looking for these examples of what makes a literacy-rich environment. Taking a literacy expert along would make this trip a lot easier, as they would identify and describe the good and not so good practices happening in the classroom.