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Suzanne Graybush Blog #5 LTED 667

It takes a strong, dedicated, and enthusiastic leader to guide a community of educators. After acquiring knowledge from this class and others, I feel I have learned specific knowledge to become a leader in the Administration and Supervision of my school's reading programs. I have learned how to use data collected from my classes' IREADY diagnostic reading scores, state tests, and other assessments to create a plan in order to build interest and motivation for my own students to challenge themselves to achieve more. This could essentially close the gap in their personal reading skills and push many of my students up one or two reading levels to be on grade level. I want my classes, as well as all students to create individual plans to take ownership of their scores, track successes, and build goals for motivation too. As a Reading Specialist I would want to build a vision statement to include student involvement in RTI plans and running records, as well as outlining t...
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Blog # 4 Suzanne Graybush LTED667

             ​​ In middle school, literacy needs to be MOTIVATING for the students, in order for the students to engage in a worthwhile meaningful way. I would start with a needs assessment. Basically some kind of a google form to survey the school from the students to the staff on choice events as incentives for reading. According to our class text, Reading Specialists and Literacy Coaches in the Real World, this notion proves true, "Motivating students who have struggled with reading for years is crucial if RTI efforts are to succeed. This is particularly true with middle school and secondary students. Although many educators believe that the damage is irreversible for such students, a significant amount of research confirms just the opposite," (p. 161). As stated motivation is key,  But I agree, that with systems like RTI in place and students identified, educators just need to proceed using research based programs that have had proven suc...
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LTED 667 Suzanne Graybush Blog Post #3

               The climate or culture in my school is Children first, sometimes this can be  a good thing. How?Well,  we are a school that gives students EVERY chance at success, sometimes too much.  I think there is too much entitlement in my middle school plus parents have too much say and therefore we have lowered our standards little by little to the point where "we all get A's!"  There is little diversity, mostly white middle class America and parents kick and scream until they get what they want.             Now we are at this critical point, where we do not give homework, give too many chances, and the bar is set too low.  The administrators hardly back us as teachers, and bend towards the parents. The only ones who seem to be held accountable are US as teachers.  What does this mean for literacy? It is terrible, the students do not take init...
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Suzanne Graybush Blog #2 LTED667

Nelson Mandela once said it best, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." One day and student at at time, I vow to build an arsenal of intelligent life long readers and learners. Through the role of Literacy Coach helping teachers, or Literacy Specialist intervening where students need, whichever comes my way, I hope to help teachers see the light in teaching reading.  As a Literacy Specialist I see myself pulling students to check their reading abilities through testing and running records to ensure each child gets the help they need. Another aspect I hope to fulfill is training content teachers reading strategies to ensure success in not only ELA, but Science, Social Studies, and even Math. In one article, " Teaching Content-Area Literacy and Disciplinary Literacy" by  Ramona Chauvin, PhD, and Kathleen Theodore, MA," this need is explained better by stating, "W hen K–12 teachers are asked to identify the challenges ...
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Suzanne Graybush LTED 667 Blog 1

Hello everyone, my name is Suzanne Graybush and I am currently enrolled at NJCU in the Reading Specialist Graduate Program. I first earned my bachelor's degree at The College of New Jersey back in 2001. Since then I have been a teacher at Wall Township Intermediate School in Wall, NJ which is basically the JERSEY SHORE! I was raised in this area and have not ventured far off in pursuit of my career. Even though I always envisioned myself as an elementary school teacher, I double majored in English and Elementary Ed., and used my degree to first teach 6th grade ELA. From there I have taught 6, 7th, and 8th grade ELA, along with teaching as a "push in" co-teacher, have instructed Basic Skills, study skills, and now I am back at it, currently an 8th grade ELA teacher.  My passion developed as I started teaching as a "push in" teacher, working with students who needed extra help to guide them to the PASSING status for the state mandated test. From here I developed a...
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