[MOSAIC] Mosaic Digest, Vol 11, Issue 2

[thomas]

Kimberly  You hit it on the nailhead....both the prevailing approach in
California, its result, and the best way to begin undoing all the harm!

sally


On 7/2/07 5:14 PM, "kimberlee hannan" <mrshannan6th at gmail.com> wrote:

> Feel better.  We are ALL in the same boat.
> 
> Well, I don't know what state you are in and the standards for your level.
> SO I will tell you what my experience has shown me happens here.  I have
> always taught 4th grade up.  My knowledge of primary is through observation
> and teacher's information.  I have had extensive experience with
> Houghten-Mifflin and limited with Open Court.
> 
> CA is Reading First country.  Reading First, as some interpret it, is
> totally phonics based.  Teachers here are not allowed to go outside of the
> textbook and the script to teach any other materials.  The phonics is the
> center of the universe.  The belief is that once the kids know the phonics
> the comprehension comes automatically.  That is so not true.  Even more not
> true for second language learners...  especially those whose paperwork says
> EO, but in reality is mom and dad lied, so their kids wouldn't get put into
> ELD classes.  Most of the kids you are getting are what I have heard
> referred to as "False Positives."  They call out the words very well, but
> haven't got a clue what that word means.  They do not need more phonics.
> 
> These kids don't connect that the funny little squiggles they are looking at
> are supposed to MAKE SENSE to them.  They don't know that they have to write
> the story intheir minds.  They need you to read aloud to them, picture
> books, novels, expository text.  Not just once, but four or more times a day
> (not a joke).  They need to write what they learned.  Teach them reading
> strategies ala Strategies that Work, and Mosaic of Thought among other good
> ones.  They need hours of independent reading every week.  They need chances
> to read an discuss what they've read:  Literature circles, Reading Journals,
> Reading Buddies, Book talks.  They need word study options.  Nancy Akhavan's
> new book:  Accelerating Vocabulary is a treasure chest of wonderful ways to
> connect word study to the rest of the day.
> 
> I hope you have success with these guys.  The old they get, the harder it is
> to help them figure out hoe to catch themselves up.
>