At this early stage in the course I am still trying to envisage what English Language Arts would look/ be/ sound like in the middle school classroom. I would like to offer some of my ideas thus far but of course these are always subject to future change. First I think the best approaches would all involve access to the widest possible number of different types of sources of English. These sources must not only be wide but also rich in content and relevant to the students enabling them to connect with the various materials and providing them with choice. I imagine these sources including, but not being limited to: short stories, plays, poetry, legends, novels, newspaper and magazine articles (electronic and hard copy), non-fiction accounts, use of dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference materials and other online sources. Here the sources need not involve solely the written word but can also involve audio (oral), imagery and other physical materials. These myriad of sources would not be used in isolation but be integrated in the learning environment. This integration can be used to increase meaning of the texts. Also the richness of the sources being presented would be much more likely to make a connection with the students, foster student choice, allow for multiple literacies and lead to learning autonomy.
Various teaching methods would be used in the classroom in order to provide variety and foster inclusivity and interest. These could include (but not be limited to): reading and writing workshops, problem based learning, group learning and open ended activities (dramas and others). By using rich, varied, engaging and relevant sources, providing students with choices and a voice in the in learning and tailoring teaching methods to the needs of the students, I believe a teacher would be providing a positive learning environment for ELA in the classroom.
