As a result of reading and reflecting on the required readings, I have gained a better understanding of the following:
- Teachers have the responsibility to teach a diverse set of students and in order to accomplish this they must select the important content to be emphasized in their classroom. Teachers can use the Content Enhancement Routines to implement the important content.
- Smarter planning consists of three things: content, process, integration. Content Enhancement Routines can help teachers decipher important information that is emphasized in the classroom.
- The Strategram readings are a plentiful resource for finding additional information on specific Content Enhancement Routines. I found these articles to be helpful in addition to the guidebooks. I would use these articles when I am preparing to either use the routine in my classroom or planning to run a professional development workshop.
- CERs support both the teacher and the student. They help form a partnership learning environment. They work to build from student prior knowledge and by using them in an integrated manner enables all students to succeed.
- Teachers face the issue of preparing students with learning disabilities to respond to curriculum that is ever growing in size. KUCRL says that there are three things needed to give these students success: teacher/student focused interventions, integrated delivery system and effective professional development. Intervention can range from Level 1 to Level 5, which is demonstrated in the 5 level literacy continuum. Service delivery can be individualized plans and whole general education classroom instruction. Professional development needs to be a centered partnership learning experience.
- Integrating CER in the the classroom can help students with learning disabilities achieve and understanding and acquisition of the increasing complexity and volume of content in core classes. As the volume of content increases, so does the need for higher order thinking; which is a struggle for these students. SMARTER planning is a tool that can be used by the content teacher to help meet the planning demands.
- Research has shown that when using CER in the classroom; students with learning disabilities and student without learning disabilities show gains in their assessments.