Hi Amy - Since you do consultations all the time and have a more complete background RE different programs that are considered direct instruction, I'd love to ask you a few questions. I just really need some expert information. Do you have time to "talk" to me off-line? Bev Paul
On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 9:17 PM, Amy McGovern < [email protected]> wrote: > > Your question is a good one. > > Learning to effectively teach Direct Instruction is an evolution--as it is > for any other approach or methodology. > > When I conduct a training, I share how important it is to stick to the > wording of the script --especially the first time you teach a program. I > fully and completely understand how hard that is to do. > > (Note that kids are not ever randomly placed into a level. They are > tested--and placed at a starting point where they will immediately feel > successful.) > > > > Sticking to the script is definitely a leap of faith as some of the things > asked of the teacher seem counter intuitive. Yet, everything in the script > has a reason for being there...even if the reason is not immediately obvious > (and trust me that many times it is not). Keep in mind that these scripts > did not come out of thin air. They were extensively field tested with real > teachers and real kids. Programs are revised multiple times before they are > published. > > > > Having said all of that--Here's what is not scripted: the students' > mistakes. > > The teacher needs to learn how to successfully meet the students' needs. > Several correction procedures are taught and practiced during training and > learning how to use them effectively is part of what makes teachers and kids > successful. > > So yes, sticking to the script is important. But there is room to add > some things while still maintaining fidelity. > > > > I'll give you a good example. Earlier this year I modeled a Corrective > Reading Decoding B2 lesson for a teacher who had only ever taught Reading > Mastery 1 and 2 and Language for Learning. > > She's very good at these other Direct Instruction programs...but CR > Decoding B2 was new to her. > > After the lesson she commented on how I had faithfully stuck to the script, > while also addressing the specific student needs that came up within the > lesson. Two quick examples of what I added during story reading from this > lesson (FYI Story reading is done out loud--everyone takes turns reading a > few sentences. After about 100 words have been read with 98% accuracy, the > teacher asks comprehension questions--this continues until the story for the > lesson is complete) > > > > > > Anyway during story reading, I added a fluency correction for a student > that needed help with learning how to phrase better. I also added a > comprehension correction, modeling how to go back into the story to find the > answer. I did these things seamlessly, they did not compromise the fidelity > to the program. And they were not part of the script. We completed the > lesson to mastery in the 45 minute period. The teacher I was working with > understood what I was doing and why. > > > > Coaching is so very important. > > > > Amy > > > > > > > > > > Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:27:40 -0600 > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [MOSAIC] direct instruction > > > > In response to Amy's post regarding the "pluses" of direct instruction I > > respectfully ask - how do you respond to those who expect "fidelity of > > implementation" when you say it's ok for teachers to veer from the > > script? That, to me, is the biggest problem with direct instruction and > > teacher scripts - that teachers are NOT allowed to use their expertise > > and that they have to follow the script no matter what. > > Carrie > > K-8, Illinois > > _______________________________________________ > > 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. > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. > > http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_howitworks_022009 > _______________________________________________ > 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.
