I've often thought that administrators should be required to actually "teach" in a regular classroom for at least a week straight through--not filling in for a teacher, but on a day to day basis. Often, they forget what the daily grind is really like--both the ups and downs. Also, some of then haven't taught or worked with the kids for well over 25 years! Yet, they feel they can tell teachers how and what to teach!
Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2010 10:59:30 AM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Chapter 1 (Book Whisperer) Sometimes (okay more than sometimes) I wonder what administrators are thinking! Most of them at one time or other have been in the classroom. DId they not notice how kids learn? Didn't they notice that there was never a time that one strategy or approach met the needs of all kids? How can they think that a basal could address all issues to all kids? If they really do think that wouldn't that mean that everyone learns the same way?? Lucky for me I have a great principal who realizes kids and teachers as individuals. She supports whatever strides we take to reach each child. We need to make clones of her and ship them around the country! :) Sue -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, Jul 9, 2010 9:33 pm Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Chapter 1 (Book Whisperer) I have loved reading your descriptions of teaching reading. I love you all for your honesty and your firm belief that children learn to read by reading. I often wonder why the world accepts that swimmers and ballerinas and mechanics learn through practice. I marvel at you all as teachers of reading (and I admit that PatK brought tears to my eyes--I am awed by your experience and your early expertise). I am a slug compared to you all. I taught reading the way I was told for years. Then I read Mosaic of Thought and became a real teacher. I hooted and hollered all the way through the book. I nodded constantly as I read and I made my dear husband listen as I read to him (and he is not a teacher). The first time I heard Ellin Keene speak, I listened so intensely that she approached me (in an audience of 100+) and asked if she knew me. When my California district knuckled under to politicians and told us to teach Houghton Mifflin "with fidelity" (this after sending people to Colorado to work with Keene), I knew better. I finally knew better. I used some of the HM selections to teach comprehension strategies in 3rd grade. Last year, in 5th grade, we opened HM one week to read the poetry. I am now proud of my literacy instruction. Judy _______________________________________________ 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. _______________________________________________ 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.
