Hello!  My name is Cheryl MacDonald. I am very excited to have recently joined the team at Sheila Erickson’s Roadways to Reading Studio as a resource teacher focusing on literacy.  Most of my career has been spent teaching grade 1 in rural Saskatchewan. I have also taught and subbed in Saskatoon after moving here in 2014. I am passionate about literacy and encouraging readers to succeed. I can’t wait to see the growth in our learners at Sheila’s studio this year!

My perspective from a classroom teacher moving towards a resource teacher is tenfold - ten times as great, yet ten times as challenging!

*It’s great … to enter a comfortable, cozy, non-conventional “studio” environment with 3-6 shared learning areas. The space is welcoming and relaxing and provides the perfect environment to foster student learning. Not to mention, the fresh smell of home-made bread cascading down from Sheila’s kitchen! Mmmmmm…nothing quite like it! :)

*Yet … it’s challenging to understand how the struggling reader’s mind works and provide encouragement & enthusiasm when the students are frustrated while learning.

*It’s great … to be involved in a trusting, supportive, and respectful atmosphere with a small student-teacher ratio. I enjoy having plenty of time to get to know each student personally. I love listening to their stories, cheering them on, and learning about their interests!

*Yet … it’s very challenging to motivate struggling students on a Monday or after holidays!

*It’s great … to work one-on-one with individualized student-teacher time for an extended period of 90 minutes with no ‘interruptions!’

*Yet … it’s overwhelming to fit all the program’s components into the sessions – doing it justice and a job well done without rushing!

*It’s great … to rely on one method of teaching – direct, explicit teaching with scaffolding instruction and sequential learning for the student.

*Yet … there’s no time for ‘extras’ or a variety of teaching methods when focusing on the targeted goals, baseline assessments, and daily evaluations. (Less is best – repeat … less is best!)

*It’s great … to implement a solid, research-based reading program (Roadways to Reading) which puts the focus back on phonics and phonological awareness as key components to reading. Sounds are powerful; they lay the foundation for all further literacy skills. Fluency is also emphasized by repeating and practicing texts through leveled reading and the rhythms of poetry and songs!

*Yet … it’s a challenge when technology throws out ‘gliches’!

*It’s great … to celebrate quality literature with read-alouds focusing on vocabulary and comprehension through predictions, questions, clarifying, and summarizing.

*Yet … it’s stressful when the targeted goals are not achieved and the roller coaster effect is in place.

*It’s SUPER GREAT … to experience the joys of students’ progress by seeing their eyes light up and their confidence shine as they begin to feel like life-long learners! :)