The thing that I like about a reading series is that new teachers have skills lessons right there in front of them and they don't have to guess at what to teach and when. The thing I don't like....how scripted they were and lack of good literature. Carol M
--- On Sat, 7/10/10, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Chapter 1 (Book Whisperer) To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 3:09 PM It's funny Judy, I was the most anti basal person out there until I became a Literacy Coach. When I saw the knowledge base that some teachers had I understood why they wanted it. It is a good tool for a new teacher who needs it. It gives a framework for teaching as they learn to manage students, and come to understand their practice. Never thought I'd say that in my life, but once you are out of your own world of the classroom you see things with new eyes. That being said, what's generally missing is the way to take teachers from using the basal as a learning tool to a well rounded teacher. What often happens is they use the basal as a crutch and don't feel the need to deepen their knowledge base because the script gives them the plans. Laura -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, Jul 10, 2010 11:09 am Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Chapter 1 (Book Whisperer) I am one who denigrated basals, but I do agree with Laura (see below). In fact, for many reasons, I think new teachers SHOULD start with basals. That is how we learn to teach reading in a traditional way as we gather our own reading theories--and the planning is done for them. Mosaic would have made no sense to me if I hadn't already had a foundation in teaching reading. Unfortunately, last year (when California could still afford new teachers), I got in trouble for recommending that our newbies use the basal for a year. They were foundering with comprehension strategies and needed a foothold. Alas. When I taught 3rd grade and focused on comprehension strategies, I used the basal as an anthology and we read almost all of the selections. It seems to me that most basals have excellent selections these days. My objection to the 5th grade basal is that many of the selections are excerpts and they leave students feeling unfinished and dissatisfied. Sorry this is so disjointed--you can see I still have mixed feelings about basals. What I detest most is the way the publishers throw waaaaay too much thoughtless busywork into "a week" and don't give kids a chance to learn. But, as you may glean from my thoughts, I still think basals have some value. Judy (((Laura: I think the main reason schools are adopting basals is a lack of trust in teacher knowledge. To play devil's advocate, not all teachers come to the profession prepared to teach. Put a basal in the hands of a less seasoned teacher and perhaps you'll have a chance at good instruction. The more seasoned teachers do not need it of course. I think this all speaks to the level of preparedness our teachers are coming out of university with. ))) _______________________________________________ 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.
