> Reading First, as some interpret it, is > totally phonics based. Teachers here are not allowed to go outside of > the > textbook and the script to teach any other materials. The phonics is > the > center of the universe. The belief is that once the kids know the > phonics > the comprehension comes automatically. That is so not true. Even > more not > true for second language learners...
Amen to all of this, Kim. And yes, Nancy Akhavan's Accelerated Vocabulary is a treasure. I just want to add that the federal research supports important point you've made here. Really. Furthermore, the big federal study on ELL's also supports what you say. Phonics is not the center of the universe and comprehension doesn't come as if you can push a button in third or fourth grade and suddenly kids are going to start thinking instead of word calling. Comprhension has to start at day one. Thank you for posting this. Elaine On Monday, July 2, 2007, at 05:14 PM, kimberlee hannan wrote: > Feel better. We are ALL in the same boat. > > Well, I don't know what state you are in and the standards for your > level. > SO I will tell you what my experience has shown me happens here. I > have > always taught 4th grade up. My knowledge of primary is through > observation > and teacher's information. I have had extensive experience with > Houghten-Mifflin and limited with Open Court. > > CA is Reading First country. Reading First, as some interpret it, is > totally phonics based. Teachers here are not allowed to go outside of > the > textbook and the script to teach any other materials. The phonics is > the > center of the universe. The belief is that once the kids know the > phonics > the comprehension comes automatically. That is so not true. Even > more not > true for second language learners... especially those whose paperwork > says > EO, but in reality is mom and dad lied, so their kids wouldn't get put > into > ELD classes. Most of the kids you are getting are what I have heard > referred to as "False Positives." They call out the words very well, > but > haven't got a clue what that word means. They do not need more > phonics. > > These kids don't connect that the funny little squiggles they are > looking at > are supposed to MAKE SENSE to them. They don't know that they have to > write > the story intheir minds. They need you to read aloud to them, picture > books, novels, expository text. Not just once, but four or more times > a day > (not a joke). They need to write what they learned. Teach them > reading > strategies ala Strategies that Work, and Mosaic of Thought among other > good > ones. They need hours of independent reading every week. They need > chances > to read an discuss what they've read: Literature circles, Reading > Journals, > Reading Buddies, Book talks. They need word study options. Nancy > Akhavan's > new book: Accelerating Vocabulary is a treasure chest of wonderful > ways to > connect word study to the rest of the day. > > I hope you have success with these guys. The old they get, the harder > it is > to help them figure out hoe to catch themselves up. > > > -- > Kim > ------- > Kimberlee Hannan > Department Chair > Sequoia Middle School > resno, California 93702 > > > Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you can't > change, kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give > everything, have no regrets.. Life's too short to be anything but > happy. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ > mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
