[MOSAIC] Another mosaic: The reading-writing connection

[Evans2429 at wmconnect.com]

In a message dated 7/6/2007 2:41:11 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
jwidmann at rocketmail.com writes:


> When schools spend money on test prep workbooks but can't find money 
> for math manipulatives and books to read, the road is very bumpy.
> 

oh I could really go on and on about this too!  Our library is sooo outdated, 
yet our administrators feel  money is better spent on test prep/technology.  
While I am a huge supporter of technology, taking practice tests on a computer 
is a waste of time.  Math worksheets generated by a computer are a HUGE waste 
of money.  Our students have no reading stamina- I teach fifth graders, and 
yet very few of my students come to me with the stamina to read a 150 page 
novel on their own.  We have a very limited supply of information texts in our 
library, yet most of the reading on our state test is informational.  If test 
scores are so important, why aren't we using best practices to teach students 
rather than going backwards to skill and drill textbook driven programs??  Sorry- 
I get so frustrated about this topic.  If anyone has had any success in 
defending reading writing workshop or getting funding for library books please send 
me the info.
Dollie   </HTML>