I have really enjoyed following this discussion. By common sense, just like you had felt, I felt as if the fluency checks were a complete waste of time and did not support them. However, I attended the Teacher to Teacher workshops over the summer and did see some of the research that supports fluency checks and teaching.
I think that any kind of literacy program needs to be balanced and focused on comprehension, but it did convince me that fluency should be a strong part of a balanced program. May Dartez 6th, GA On Oct 27, 2006, at 11:01 PM, Margie Waterbrook wrote: > On 10/27/06, Bill IVEY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> . Note the phrase I highlighted mid-description - would you >> agree in general? For your school? >> >> It's really interesting timing that you posted this today, Bill. >> Several years ago I worked at a charter school where it seemed all the >> special ed reading teacher did was time kids on their reading...and >> my group >> of friends on the the faculty, from a common-sense rather than a >> research >> point-of-view--just thought it was ridiculous and one more reason we >> all >> wanted OUT of that particular school. > > > Now I am at a much better school and teach an "English Support" > class > with a special ed teacher whom I respect...and, much to my surprise, > all of > a sudden we are doing these fluency checks. We discussed this, and she > tells > me that that was her reaction at first as well...but that she dug into > the > research and it supports this kind of teaching. > Research v. common sense...this approach still doesn't make > sense to > me. Luckily, unlike at the earlier school, where this is about all > they did, > we have a much more balanced program. But I am still unconvinced about > pushing for speed. It's not as if it's a typing class! > Margie > > Margie Waterbrook > 9th & 10th Grade English > Vail High School > Vail, AZ > > "Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." > --Winston Churchill > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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
