Does anyone understand the thinking behind this decision? ...From, Mena
Middle schools to drop traditional reading classes
By Sara Toth,
January 20, 2012
A new schedule is coming for county middle schools, and it will not include
traditional reading classes.
The Howard County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the proposed
change Thursday, Jan. 26, and according to board Vice Chairman Frank Aquino,
"This is going to pass at some time or another, whether it's next week or next
year."
Under the new schedule, all Howard County middle schools would have a
50-minute, seven-period schedule, as opposed to current variations on a
45-minute, eight-period day.
The changes have been roundly denounced by county teachers, who packed a public
hearing last week to voice their opposition.
The changes are being considered in the wake of a new state curriculum that
emphasizes infusing literacy instruction into all content areas, said Clarissa
Evans, executive director of school improvement and curricular program. School
officials say stand-alone reading class is inconsistent with the new
curriculum, which goes into effect for the 2012-13 academic year.
On Thursday, Jan. 19, a four-hour long work session with the board and central
office staff members resulted in several scheduling options being presented for
consideration next week, all based around freeing involved teachers from
administrative duties or meetings during the implementation period.
One possibility, said William Ryan, executive director of school improvement
and administration, is to have an every-other-day planning period for those
teachers, who already have one planning period devoted to administrative duties
like lunch supervision or collaborative planning meetings.
Another option allowing the teachers a program planning period every day is on
the table, but that would require an additional teacher at each of the middle
schools, said Linda Wise, chief academic officer, and would cost $1.3 million.
"It's staggering to me," she said. "We don't believe that's necessary."
Under the proposed changes, all students would have an English Language Arts
class and below-grade readers would also have a reading-specific class during
the school day. At- or above-level readers could take an "advanced inquiry and
innovation" course, like economic literacy.
.
The system would not eliminate explicit reading instruction for students who
need it, Evans said, and reading instruction in other classes would not just be
"tacked on at the end of the class." Rather, middle schools will undergo a
massive change in curriculum, and "content-area" teachers — like those who
teach science, social studies or math — would have lessons several times a week
that focus on critical reading and response skills.
"We're restructuring to an extent that I think is greater than people
understand in all classes to emphasize literacy skills," she said.
Philomena Marinaccio-Eckel, Ph.D.
Florida Atlantic University
Dept. of Teaching and Learning
College of Education
2912 College Ave. ES 214
Davie, FL 33314
Phone: 954-236-1070
Fax: 954-236-1050
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