I think both have benefits and drawbacks. Do you have to use a program or are you just looking for resources? What grades? As far as I am concerned, when teaching phonics, it is important to remember a couple of principles: 1: Word learning does not occur through memorization. It is more effective when students use activities like word sorts to compare words and make generalizations for themselves. Conversations between students, opportunities for students to read and write the sounds they are working on are key to learning and transfer. I think Saxon misses out on this. 2. Word learning is developmental. One size fits all is inappropriate . Assessment and then differentiation is crucial. While Cunningham provides many engaging activities that are multi-level, I think this key component of assessment and differentiation are not done as well as they should be. There is a good bit of research supporting formative assessment and small group instruction targeted to the needs of students instead of whole class activities.
I think what is most important is that you as a teacher understand how children learn to decode and spell, and then you pick and choose what will work best. As this discussion continues, I am going to ask everyone to remain open-minded. Phonics tends to be a hot-button topic...but a topic of interest to all. Seek to understand before making yourself understood... and try to ask questions before Jennifer L. Palmer, Ed. D. Instructional Facilitator National Board Certified Teacher Magnolia Elementary (home school) 901 Trimble Road Joppa, MD 21085 410-612-1553 Fax 410-612-1576 "In every child a touch of greatness!!' Proud of our Title One School Norrisville Elementary 5302 Norrisville Road White Hall, MD 21161 410-692-7810 Fax 410-692-7812 Where Bright Futures Begin!! ________________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of Monique Platz [[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 2:55 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [MOSAIC] Saxon Phonics or Month by Month Phonics by Patricia Cunningham Please share your thoughts on these two methods of teaching phonics. I have worked with both and certainly am partial to the MBM Phonics (1st grade) but am wondering which can give us the results we are looking for (better decoding and spelling). I've also tried Saxon and found it a bit too scripted, but wanting to know if anyone has tried both and which is yielding better results. I'd like to blend the two, but unsure if it's possible. Thanks for your input! _______________________________________________ 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
