What are the qualities of a Reading Teacher?

What does a reading teacher need to know?

Every state certainly has certification requirements that list coursework and or experiences that are required.  But is knowledge enough?

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With the implementation of the Iowa Core/Common Core, teachers need a deep understanding of all the English Language Arts Anchor and Grade Level Standards.  That includes the 10 Standards for Reading Literature and Informational Text, the 10 Writing Standards, the 6 Speaking and Listening Standards and the 6 Language Standards. Why? Because those grade-level standards are the  learning progressions that are used to build the daily learning targets that provide the focus for instruction.

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What are some other qualities Reading Teachers need?

• A love of books!
• To be a reader!
• A passion for learning!
• A need to connect every single student with that just right book!
• The ability to scaffold and accelerate skills and understandings in ELA!

Here are just a few tweets from today’s Michigan Reading Association, Sunday, March 10, 2013, that emphasize some of those qualities.

“Jillian Heise @heisereads

Important for kids to know we have rdg plans. Kids see rdg like bungee jumping-well that was fun now I don’t have to do it again.#mra13”

“Jillian Heise @heisereads

If we don’t read ourselves, we’re choosing to be less effective with our kids. -Donalyn Miller #MRA13”

“Jillian Heise @heisereads

For our kids who struggle, reading is nothing but hard…all day long. We need to show them the fun in reading too.@donalynbooks #MRA13”

“Heather Jensen @hmjensen31

Reading teacher: a teacher who reads and a reader who teaches.#mra13”   @donalynbooks  Commeyras, Bisplinghoff & Olson (2003)

What do you think are the MOST important qualities of a Reading Teacher?

PS:  Do you recognize @donalynbooks ?  That is the Book Whisperer!