Bev... What a thoughtful post...it leads to something I have been thinking about, and that is the structure through which we teach literacy is of grave importance. My district has Writer's Workshop...but not a Literacy Studio/Reader's Workshop. For years we taught a whole group lesson followed by two reading groups...then gave teachers permission to be flexible in how they teach reading. Without sufficient PD, that has become a LOT of whole group lessons. We purchased an anthology for teachers to use as a resource for reading, but for many that resource has become a crutch...and so while we read Miller and Keene, and teach our comprehension strategies, they don't always become part of our students' independent repetoire.
I think that part of the reason for this is that our basal has a strategy being taught for two weeks...it marches students through the gradual release model together (or sometimes neglects the "we do" or guided practice section). We don't work at each student's pace...those kids who have already mastered the strategy get it again. Those who need more modeling don't get it. And so... we leave some behind and fail to push others ahead. If we put our money into PD to help teachers use a workshop model, the structure for differentiation is in place, making it more likely to be implemented. I used to think that the structure for instruction didn't matter, it was the philosophy behind it that mattered. I am changing my thinking at this point, now that I am out of the classroom. The structure supports the good teaching...and allows us to use the gradual release model that Debbie describes rather than marching students through a "flow chart" lock step. Got to get Debbie's second edition I think!!! 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 "Reaching, Teaching, Learning, Changing Lives!!" Norrisville Elementary 5302 Norrisville Road White Hall, MD 21161 410-692-7810 Fax 410-692-7812 Where Bright Futures Begin!! ________________________________________ From: Mosaic [[email protected]] on behalf of Beverlee paul [[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2013 9:48 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Gradual release The other obvious limitation to the "class" release to independence model which has been a subtext of some of the thinking the last decade, is that each of the class members need/receive modeling, etc. all at the same time, need/receive guided practice, whatever, all at the same time, etcetera and that meets all their needs. In truth, rarely are any two members of a class ready for exactly the same instruction at the same time. Yes, the teacher may provide instruction, guide practice, etcetera, but when we consider what is learned rather than what is taught, each path is different. Because of that alone, we know the linear model of the release to independence is incomplete or inadequate. I think the NAEYC'S model of learning aids understanding. I also greatly admire Ellin Keene's thinking in To Understand describing her journey to understand understanding (and implicit comprehension strategy instruction). I also think Jerome Harste and company's thinking when they write about "mucking around" is illustrative. It's always so hard to try to wrestle something so complex as this topic into boxes and flow charts and graphics. It's almost as hard to corral it in words. And it must be frustrating to write about an understanding which is dynamic at its core and have it remain there in print. Thank God for second editions! _______________________________________________ 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
