[LIT] lit Digest, Vol 19, Issue 9

[ljackson]

Sadly, working now at the district level I see more and more conversations
centered on making life easier for teachers rather than making life BETTER
for learners.  

Lori


On 5/14/07 1:24 PM, "Heather Poland" <hpoland at gmail.com> wrote:

> UGH! That is an insult to say that RW and WW are too hard for new teachers.
> Sorry, I was taught RW and WW through college and it was the thing we were
> doing in our district. We worked together to find text. This is just plain,
> good teaching.
> 
> There is research out there that says if you use the basal like it is
> "supposed" to be used, kids are not reading enough since they do about 1
> story a week. Not enough!
> 
> How insulting. Besides, why would YOU have to switch if you are used to it?
> 
> On 5/14/07, Barb Frye <bfrye at gorockets.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> For the past 8 years, we have taught Reading Workshop to our sixth graders
>> using our own curriculum. We've collected stories and developed skill
>> practice activities and comprehension activities to teach reading in 43
>> minute periods. Now, with a new principal and some new teachers, we are
>> being pressured to bring back a basal and worksheet approach, because our
>> reading workshop is too demanding and too hard for new teachers (no
>> teachers
>> manual). I am furious! I didn't think the object was to make it easy! I am
>> the last remaining veteran teacher and yes, I know times and kids have
>> changed over the last 28 years, but really- a 15 year old basal that we
>> used
>> to use? Seems like we're going backwards and not teaching  the skills
>> necessary to be successful in life and on the state tests! Am I alone in
>> this? I will change to anything that really benefits the kids, and if the
>> pendulum is swinging back so be it--been there done that!  I love centers
>> and book talks, and novel units--I wholeheartedly believe in it and we are
>> not in danger as a school district, we're not great, but we make AYP. Any
>> thought from new, young teachers to this old lady in PA?
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org
>> 
>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to
>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org.
>> 
>> Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
>> 
> 
> 

-- 
Lori Jackson
District Literacy Coach & Mentor
Todd County School District
Box 87
Mission SD  57555
 
http:www.tcsdk12.org
ph. 605.856.2211


Literacies for All Summer Institute
"Literate Lives:  A Human Right"
July 12-15, 2007
Louisville, Kentucky

http://www.ncte.org/profdev/conv/wlu