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Extra Credit with Robbin Dodson, Jefferson Middle School, Aurora

Robbin Dodson has been a teacher for nine years, but this is her first year with West Aurora School District 129. Dodson teaches English, language arts and reading and math intervention at Jefferson Middle School in Aurora.

Dodson has plenty of experience in the business world as well.

"Prior to teaching, I worked as a corporate trainer and project manager," Dodson said, and she is a licensed Realtor with a Naperville real estate office. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Southern Illinois University and is enrolled in a master of education program at the American College of Education.

The Daily Herald caught up with Dodson to learn more about her teaching strategies.

Q. Eighth grade is sort of a transition year from elementary education to high school. How do you help students mature with their writing and their literacy skills to get them ready for the expectations of a high school English class?

Dodson. Preparing our students for high school and beyond is a process that begins in early education. As teachers, we work collaboratively to scaffold lessons and learning target mastery to continually prepare our students for the next level. Throughout the school year I introduce and reteach lessons, as needed, conduct formative assessments to adjust instruction, and involve the students in the instructional process. I am constantly looking for opportunities to increase rigor in the classroom to facilitate the transition to high school.

Q. How do you explain the connection between being a good reader and being a good writer to your students?

Dodson. Students that read well are able to write well. I emphasize active reading. We approach text with pencil in hand to document predictions, connections, questions, etc. as we are reading. This process not only allows students to better understand the text, but also prepares them to write. While reading they create notes, identify central ideas, and note the key details that will be included in their writing. The increased text comprehension transitions to their writing.

Q. Reading and writing tend to be more solitary activities, but there's so much buzz these days about student collaboration. How has an English/language arts class changed since your students' parents were in school? And how do you appeal to the high-tech generation?

Dodson. The English/language arts classroom has changed in many ways since my students' parents were in school. Our curriculum includes individual work; however, the learning process is enhanced by incorporating collaborative strategies such as Think-Pair-Share (TPS). Collaborative learning allows students to problem solve, analyze complex text, and challenge their thinking. Infusing technology into instruction appeals to the high-tech generation. In my classroom, we use laptops for research, journaling, and collaborating throughout the writing process. Students are able to revise their work, edit the work of their peers, and receive feedback prior to submitting the final draft.

Q. If you could remove one tried-and-true piece of required reading from the curriculum, what would you take out and what would you replace it with? Why?

Dodson. There isn't one piece of "tried-and-true" required reading that I would remove from the curriculum. However, as often as possible, I would incorporate appropriate high interest texts that actively engage my students in the learning process.

Q. When it comes to reading, what's your guilty pleasure?

Dodson. I love to read for various purposes. I read to escape into a world of fantasy or further research a topic of interest. My favorite genre to read is historical nonfiction; however, the ladies in my book club regularly introduce me to new favorites.

  English and language arts teacher Robbin Dodson works with her class at Jefferson Middle School in Aurora Thursday. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  English and language arts teacher Robbin Dodson works with her class at Jefferson Middle School in Aurora Thursday. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
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