I teach middle school on a campus with 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Secondary students DO need a reading class. If you are an elementary teacher, you would probably be amazed how many students we get in 6th grade that cannot decode, are not fluent, and have little or no comprehension skills. Our public schools in America are not placing emphasis on reading in secondary schools, but rather skipping it. If you have time, do the research on what America spends on Adult Literacy. It is astounding!! The money that should be spent in secondary public school education is being taken away and then because of the high numbers of adult illiteracy in America our government offers many grants, etc. for organizations to teach adult literacy skills. Check out the local agencies in your community and determine how they are funded. Now, for the schools that are removing reading classes...I think this is being done primarily because of funding deficiencies. Reading teachers are being eliminated and the entire curriculum is being overhauled so that the content teachers can be trained to "teach" reading. I hope it works but again--going out on a limb here--I think as education follows a cyclical format, that years down the road the realization will come that those content teachers will not be as effective as the educator who has chosen to get their degree in reading and literacy. I think as teachers/educators of literacy that we must advocate for reading and literacy to be continued through secondary education in America. Local school boards cannot make these decisions alone. The decisions are being made in state education agencies---who are often represented by few teachers, but rather white collar professionals.
Mrs. Marsha Foltermann 6th grade, ELAR 903-462-7307 For a conference, please call the office: 903-462-7200 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Renee Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 9:00 AM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Middle schools to drop reading classes It looked to me, in the article, that it is being shifted to the content areas, that it would be addressed specifically in the content areas. I have no problem with this. I am not a middle school teacher, but frankly it seems weird to me to have a "reading" class in middle school, although maybe it is just what they used to call "english" class and if it means that the kids are no longer going to be reading any fiction, then I say it's a big, big mistake. Renee On Jan 26, 2012, at 4:27 AM, Troy F wrote: > Is reading being taught in another way than traditional reading > classes? Is it being integrated across the cirriculum? It better not > be completely dropped. > > Troy Fredde > > On Jan 25, 2012, at 10:15 PM, Deborah Lawson <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> I don't understand the thinking, but it is very scary. I hope >> Missouri does not follow suit. >> >> Deborah Lawson >> >> On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 12:48 PM, Mena <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> 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 >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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.or > g > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive > > Violence is not inevitable. Peace is there for us in every moment. It is our choice. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh _______________________________________________ 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
