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.