Jennifer, I, for one, am tickled that you are carefully keeping data, AND never being one that is satisfied, I'm very much hoping that you'll continue to keep an eye out so you'll have at least a small piece of long-term data. That's the crux of the matter for me. Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:30:07 To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Reading Mastery, etcetera Hi everyone... Reading programs are a hot button issue on this listserv. They always has been. They probably always will be. We have teachers from all over the world following the discussion here and all of us are operating under very different teaching contexts and backgrounds of experience. Often (and I speak from personal experience here) many of us have very negative views of programs because our experiences with them are that they are used like a weapon by desperate administrators who want to try to raise test scores quickly. Others, who may also be speaking from personal experience, have success stories with these very same programs. We all know that teaching reading IS rocket science...there are no quick fixes...and quality instruction by a highly trained, reflective and knowledgeable teacher is the real research based intervention. No one on this list that I know of really would disagree with that. YET...keep in mind that since reading IS rocket science...since it is a very complex process...and since the mind of each child we work with is unique, we need to keep our minds open and listen to each other carefully to see what we can learn. I had a program forced down my throat this year... and I have gone kicking and screaming into trying a scripted intervention for four of my first graders. I was determined to keep good quality data to prove that the program was not what those kids needed. Well...at the midpoint of the year, two of the four children, (one of whom is spending her second year in first grade and had intervention already for two years...and had been resistant to just about everything I tried) is suddenly making rapid progress. The two who are not progressing will come out of this program...but the other two will stay because, to my surprise, it is just what they needed. I hate teaching it...it contradicts what I believe on so many levels, but how can I say it is wrong when I am seeing kids succeed and grow in confidence as they master decoding skills? Up to this point, the discussion about programs on this list has remained civil though it is obvious that there is passionate disagreement. I appreciate that we have maintained a civil tone, and I thank you. All I ask is that we keep the discussion civil and if you post something, please back up your opinions rather than making emotional statements. Before posting, you might want to seek to understand the point of view of the person you are disagreeing with. All of us are making decisions based on what WE think is best for kids. Assume the best of people. Try to change minds...but do it with logic. That is what a forum like this is all about. It is all about the learning. Jennifer List moderator **************Know Your Numbers: Get tips and tools to help you improve your credit score. (http://www.walletpop.com/credit/credit-reports?ncid=emlcntuswall00000002) _______________________________________________ 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.
