Bev As a reading specialist who has administrators who trust me to do what the kids need and who do not tie my hands in any way but rather encourage me to use the data and student work to make a plan for my intervention students...I am appalled that there are folks out there who are asked to operate with hands tied behind their backs. Having been on the Mosaic list for so long, I have known that so many of us who have to work under these conditions, yet to read another post about it is depressing. I totally agree with your recommendation re: Dick Allington's book...his guiding principles--the struggling kids need expert instruction, high volume of time in text that they can actually read, attention to comprehension and higher level thinking etc...have been our bible at my school where most of the intervention happens directly in the classroom setting rather that from a pull out, scripted program. I have administrators who believe that it is the teacher in front of the kids that has the most powerful impact on learning and who do their best to support us (including me as the reading specialist) in developing our skills. How lucky I am and I thank God daily to be teaching where I teach. Now while every bone in my reading specialist body revolts at the idea of me being forced to do a scripted program, (and I know that those of you on this list who know me personally recognize that this is an understatement!! LOL), my intellect tells me that it isn't 'programs' that are the problem, it is how they are implemented. I know of some programs in my own district that I hear about that are very successful---particularly in building surface structures. I know that the reality of teaching under NCLB means that we are being told to use research based programs and that these might have some positive affect on developing those surface structures...that lets face it...are indeed essential. What we need to do as teachers of reading, however, is to advocate for balance. Are our students receiving scripted phonics or fluency programs ALSO getting exposure to thoughtful comprehension instruction? Are they getting the chance to read a lot, get excited about reading, see teachers model the active intellectual life or are they getting lower expectations and the idea that reading is just saying the words quickly and accurately? Has everyone else noticed how revolutionary Ellin's ideas are? There will be feathers ruffled in the education world, I am certain! And...it is about time! :-) Jennifer In a message dated 3/30/2008 8:55:06 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
And what should "specialists" be doing? I think we might all agree: whatever is necessary to help the children in front of them. If so, the first thing might be to use their professional skills, talents, education, and experience to find out what those strugglers actually do need and then trying to make sure they get it. Aren't we giving the children who are the most in need of expertise to the experts--and then tying the hands of those very experts? Please don't take this as a criticism of our specialists; nothing could be further from the truth. But, in this discussion of what's essential, I would propose that the reading specialist should be the educator who needs, and has, the greatest professional freedom and responsibility. And further, that the "what's essential" question is even more essential in these cases. And so I can't help naming Allington's book, What Matters Most for Struggling Readers, to further support my bias. Any reading specialist who has not read that book must do so. I know of no better resource to help us get our heads straight on what's essential. For most of you, it will be such an affirmation of what you already know!! When you put Allington's work aside Altwerger's book on fluency, what you get is a clear picture of what part phonics and fluency should play in the day of a reading specialist and struggling readers. It's a clear picture of what I would say is truly essential: living the literate life and helping EACH learner get the tools to understand and comprehend. And I would further submit that the reading specialist is the person in our schools who has the education, experience, caring, and intellect to ferret out what is essential for the toughest of our kids and provide them with that very thing. **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001) _______________________________________________ Understand mailing list [email protected] http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org
