Sally Gaskins' Blog #4-Routman Ch. 4: Teach With a Sense of Urgency

I like the way Routman explains in this chapter how we must make the most of the little bit of time we have to get students where they need to be. We need to be very aware of our students and their needs and approach each minute of the day with purpose. It's easy to get distracted from this purpose given the many other things that demand our attention on a daily and weekly basis, but we must teach with a sense of urgency in order to challenge our students in appropriate and meaningful ways. Routman goes on to describe in detail a learning model that teachers should employ to best move their students forward. I love that she is so specific! The examples she shares at the end of the chapter are especially helpful.


The section on p. 50 about integrating basic skills into challenging, relevant curriculum really hit home, as I've been feeling like my instruction has been compartmentalized. What I teach in the little bit of time I have should be more connected and the ideas and concepts should be more fluent. I want to get away from using the basal and teach reading with read-alouds, integrating language, science, and social studies. I want to spend more time on writing and start using a writer's workshop approach in my class. Routman says several times in this chapter that there should be joy along with a sense of urgency in teaching reading. I'm looking forward to putting her suggestions into practice in order to feel more joy in my teaching. As a result, my students will experience more joy and therefore more readily become the lovers of reading I long for them to become.