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?
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