I have worked in several districts in Michigan and am currently a Curriculum Coordinator for Elementary Instruction. I, too, have been looking at phonics programs, because as I see it, not all teachers are created equal. While I would love to see all teachers creating literature rich, cross-curriculuar connections, with embedded word study work, I know that it is not the reality of our district or every teacher. To be fair, I don't think that we spend the amount of professional development necessary for all teachers to be strong experts of both their content and of explicit, scaffolded instruction. So, while I work towards that particular goal, I need to find a "program" that equals the playing field across all classrooms so that I do not create a district of "have good phonics instruction" and "have poor phonics instruction". If a quality program exists, that also provides flexibility (which I think the Fountas & Pinnell program does), then those with the expertise will be able to use it flexibly and those that need the structure of the program may have an improved quality of instruction. I currently have K teachers piloting the F&P Word Study work.
I have a sample of Fundamentals and am wondering from those that have used it, how you got started and why you chose it over the others. The same with Saxon or Wilson Language. Was Fountas & Pinnell available at the point of your decision making and you chose those over F&P? Any information would be helpful. Thanks for your help. On Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 11:22 PM, Renee <[email protected]> wrote: > In a nutshell..... I ran an individualized reading program that was > basically a combined readers' and writers' workshop, in which students > chose their own reading material, and I did comprehensive individual > conferences with each student at least a couple of times a week, during > which they talked about what they were reading, read aloud a bit to me, and > we discussed their writing, including how they used phonetic strategies in > their writing. They had individualized spelling tests and we also had > class-wide spelling words that were chunked into groups of words that > shared some kind of phonetic or spelling structure (and they chose the > words, as a group). My students wrote every day, and I almost never gave > them writing prompts unless I wanted them to include something specific. If > I did give prompts, I tried to make them as open-ended as possible. Some of > their writing was creative, some was literature response, and some was > informational. My students created class books, and individual books. I > incorporated lots and lots of drawing and other art to tap into the realm > of the visual learner. And yes, I also did some isolated phonics > instruction as I saw a need, but most of the phonics instruction was done > through individual students' own writing. > > I am retired now and substituting, and, like Sally, I am in many different > classrooms in a couple of different districts, and I do not find the print > rich environments that I created as a teacher. I almost never see poetry on > the walls, or collaborative stories, or teacher and/or student made charts. > I see a lot of isolated this and that and very little connection between > one subject an another, or even between reading and writing. "Explicit" > phonics instruction does not need to mean scripted programs. > > I'm sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes. But for those who are not sure > what this list is supposed to be about, if you haven't read Mosaic of > Thought... pick up a copy and see what it's about. > > Renee > > > > On Feb 17, 2012, at 6:02 PM, Palmer, Jennifer wrote: > > So Renee, why don't you share how you handle this issue? How do you find >> what kids need? How do you structure your classroom instruction to hit >> multiple needs? Please share how you kid watch and then use what you've >> learned? I think there's a lot of people who'd benefit from your >> experiences. >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Feb 17, 2012, at 8:34 PM, "Renee" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> No one has suggested that phonics has no place in skill instruction. >>> The question was about **scripted** phonics programs, which I .... and >>> others.... do not feel are congruent with the Mosaic of Thought strategies >>> for reading instruction. Of course phonics instruction is part of reading >>> instruction. Part of it. And being able to decode is an important strategy >>> in the comprehension process. But a scripted phonics program will not, by >>> definition, look at individual needs of children, nor will it guide the >>> teacher toward effective, individualized, kid-watching strategies. >>> >>> Renee >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Feb 17, 2012, at 3:19 PM, Cara Acosta wrote: >>> >>> Look, I don't want to start a debate, but there is a place for phonics >>>> skill instruction. It can be weaved into a Reader's workshop format as >>>> mini lessons, and then applied in context. There are some kids, >>>> particularly LD kids, dyslexic kids, or struggling readers, who do >>>> benefit >>>> from explicit phonics instruction. Does that mean that the purpose of >>>> reading isn't still making meaning? Of course not! You can't make >>>> meaning >>>> if you can't read the words! >>>> >>>> On Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 10:50 AM, Lynette DeGraffenried < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> I have used the program with kindergarten through 3 rd grade and love >>>>> it. >>>>> As a Title 1 Coordinator it is great for para professionals working in >>>>> small groups. It is flexible so that I can target specific needs of >>>>> students. And it allows for sequential/developmental growth. I also >>>>> used it >>>>> as a teacher in my own class-1st and transitional first grades. >>>>> Lynette >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my iPad >>>>> >>>>> On Feb 16, 2012, at 8:51 AM, Suzanne Goebert < >>>>> [email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I was just wondering if anyone is using Fountas & Pinnell's Phonics and >>>>>> >>>>> Word Study program in grade 2? Or is there a phonics program that >>>>> someone >>>>> is using that works for them. I am not a of fan of programs or >>>>> teaching in >>>>> isolation, but teachers in our district are seeing low phonics scores >>>>> and >>>>> are looking for something sequential/developmental to use to fill in >>>>> the >>>>> gaps. >>>>> >>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>> Suganne >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> >>>>>> ______________________________**_________________ >>>>>>> Mosaic mailing list >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>>>>>> http://literacyworkshop.org/**mailman/options/mosaic_** >>>>>>> literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org> >>>>>>> >>>>>> ______________________________**_________________ >>>>>> Mosaic mailing list >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>>>>> http://literacyworkshop.org/**mailman/options/mosaic_** >>>>>> literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org> >>>>>> >>>>>> Search the MOSAIC archives at >>>>>> http://snipurl.com/**MosaicArchive<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<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org> >>>>>> >>>>>> Search the MOSAIC archives at >>>>>> http://snipurl.com/**MosaicArchive<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<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org> >>>>> >>>>> Search the MOSAIC archives at >>>>> http://snipurl.com/**MosaicArchive<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<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org> >>>> >>>> Search the MOSAIC archives at >>>> http://snipurl.com/**MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive> >>>> >>>> >>> "Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better >>> than two doubles." ~Steve Jobs >>> >>> >>> ______________________________**_________________ >>> Mosaic mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>> http://literacyworkshop.org/**mailman/options/mosaic_** >>> literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org> >>> >>> Search the MOSAIC archives at >>> http://snipurl.com/**MosaicArchive<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<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org> >> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at >> http://snipurl.com/**MosaicArchive<http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive> >> >> > "It's better to be a pirate than to join the Navy." ~Steve Jobs > > > > > > ______________________________**_________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/**mailman/options/mosaic_** > literacyworkshop.org<http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org> > > Search the MOSAIC archives at > http://snipurl.com/**MosaicArchive<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
