[LIT] building background knowledge...and Caroline

[Bill IVEY]

"A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades."
<lit at literacyworkshop.org> on Thursday, July 05, 2007 at 9:30 AM -0500
wrote:
>i can't help but think if reading and la could work and plan together,
>that our teaching would be much more effective. heck! it'd probably be
>easier. we can still choose our text, and the mapping is already done;
>they even have some good tasks, which, if you are like me, you're always
>looking for something to grade. 

Hi!

I think there's pretty clear evidence that the more teachers (and not just
reading and language arts) can plan together and coordinate, the more
students benefit. Moreover, students in schools which understand that
reading and writing can, and should, be taught in all classrooms make more
progress in these areas than in schools which leave reading and writing
instruction to English (reading, LA, etc.) teachers. It's a pity more
people don't know, or at least acknowledge, these facts, since the many
schools which are cutting subjects which don't appear on state tests are
actually hurting their cause more than helping it.

Take care,
Bill Ivey
Stoneleigh-Burnham School