Synthesis of Course

I learned so much from this class, starting with the very basics-a text can be anything you gain knowledge or information from, like a sewing pattern, recipe, budget page or even a video. I also learned that literacy can have many definitions, but one of my favorite definitions is that being literate means that a person has enough knowledge and/or skills to be able to explain a concept in their own words, or complete a hands-on task successfully.
In my classroom I plan on teaching critical literacy and digital critical literacy by having students look up information on a specific topic, like budgeting or parenting. I will have them compare the information to see if it all coincides, and then we will discuss credibility of sources and publishing on the internet. It is so important for students to be able to determine what information is reliable and what is not.
To help my students comprehend texts on a higher level, I plan on differentiating for students on different levels. I want to differentiate the texts they are reading. For example, I'll have a short magazine article with pictures, an encyclopedia excerpt, and a journal article about the same topic (like teen nutrition). I will also differentiate products students produce. For example, I'll let students choose from making a brochure, writing a letter, or drawing a graphic organizer for information. It is so important to me that students all learn, no matter what level they are at.

Discipline-Specific Reading

Typical texts in FCS vary greatly. They range from floor plans to recipes, and from budgets to sewing patterns. I have had the most experience in my life with texts like recipes. One of the hardest, but most beneficial experiences I had with a text in FCS was in my sewing class. We were not only required to sew items from patterns, but we were required to make some patterns of our own. I learned so much more from making patterns of my own because I had to take into account all the aspects the seamstress was going to want and need to know. There were things I originally looked over until my teacher pointed them out to me.
When I first started sewing, I really didn't understand how to read a pattern. I was often confused about what it was saying, and what I was supposed to do. Luckily, my teacher was very patient with me, and helped me every step of the way. I hope to be the same teacher to my struggling students. My teacher would ask me what I thought the pattern was telling me to do, and why I thought it was telling me to do that. I think that was one of the most effective teaching strategies she used. It really helped me think deeper about why I was doing what I was doing.
I really can't come up with a negative experience I've had with a text in FCS-they've all been pretty positive. Ultimately, I would like my students to have the same positive experiences. I want them to feel comfortable asking me for help, and I want them to really understand why they're doing what they're doing.

Motivation and FACS

Have you ever wanted to make this?












What about this?                                                                    Or this?

Have you ever wished you could design this?

Or take better care of these?

Have you ever wanted to manage your money better?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a FACS class for you! FACS classes offer a wide variety of experiences including cooking, sewing, interior design, childcare and human development, and financial literacy. If you are involved in FACS classes, you also have the opportunity to participate in FCCLA. FCCLA offers service and leadership experiences along with chances for scholarships and recognition. To read more about FACS and FCCLA, visit this site: Mrs. Baker's FACS Information.

In FACS classes, you will never ask the question "how does this apply to my life?" The information you learn in FACS will help you be a more successful individual as you transition into adulthood and beyond! You cook everyday, so why not learn to cook some really delicious foods? You make and spend money everyday, why not learn how to make your money go farther? You live somewhere, why not make that somewhere visually appealing? Taking a FACS class will enhance your life and you will have a great time in the process!

Connecting School and Home Experiences

When I was a child, I had experiences with FACS everyday, whether I was helping my mom make dinner or a treat, taking care of my little brothers, helping my mom line up fabric pieces to sew, planning how to save my allowance, or decorating my bedroom with sheets and stuffed animals. For the most part, these experiences were all very positive, and helped me see that I wanted to continue having similar experiences for the rest of my life. Also, as I came to college, I reflected back on these experiences and they are ultimately what made me decide to major in Family and Consumer Science Education. These experiences gave me a positive take on all of the areas integrated into FACS, and led me to believe that the skills taught and learned in FACS classes are essential to living a happy, productive life. In my own teaching, I must be careful to remember that all students may not have had such positive experiences with these areas as I had when I was a child. Remembering this will help me understand my students better, and know what the best way to teach them will be. In my own teaching, I will try to have students make connections with the things they are learning in class to the things they do at home everyday. I think this will really help solidify my students' learning and help them more directly apply the things they are learning in class. When I am a teacher, I will assign students to take at least one piece on information they've learned from class and apply it to something at home, and then write a paragraph about what they experienced.

Hi, I'm Jessica Murdock (almost Baker). I'm studying FCSE and hope to be teaching a FACS class at this time next year.  I want to teach FACS because it is so applicable. I think it will be rare for a student to question why they need to know something I'm teaching them in real life. I will be teaching them about real life. To me, FACS is life skills that students will be using everyday for the rest of their lives. Teaching FACS will help me give my students the know-how to improve their lives. I think literacy is closely related to FACS, whether it is reading a recipe, floor plan, or sewing pattern, I will teach the students to be literate in the language and symbols used.