Does anyone have any ideas on how best to teach context clues? Suzanne/VA
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of thomas Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 11:47 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Listserv Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] basal reading series The materials for analyzing literacy materials that come from Oregon - as these do - are based on a behaviorist, part to whole view of reading and literacy. (and be certain in addition that they don't give any credence to the importance of writing in general for its on sake or in support of reading or to the constructivist approaches to writing espoused by this list serve.) Be sure that you are aware of that deep bias. It provides a very very narrow, rigid set of criteria, emphasizing phonemic awarenesss and phonics above all, rigid sequences expected and so on. If you use these materials you will come up with the "right answers" according to Reading First. And hopefully you are aware of the findings of the Inspector General with regard to this initiative not being carried out ethically in terms of bias for certain programs, educators, materials, and so on. I will send to this list tomorrow (I have to find it at work) a set of criteria that originates from IRA/NCTE sources/educators and which is probably more constructivist in its assumptions though ( or in fact a constructivist approach would expect different perspectives, right?) it sets out a FULL range of possibilities. What I do like about the second source is that it includes MANY aspects, issues of literacy to examine....and has users analyze how they would rank those aspects in terms of importance etc. So it actually gives a full range instead of the very narrow range provided by the criteria created by U of Oregon folk and cited by the Florida "research" center. It expects users to make/ analyze their own beliefs and priorities and to make assumptions from a full range. So one could use this list and come up with same outcomes recommended by the Oregon criteria document. But at least one would have to then be explicit about the underlying assumptions. Instead the Oregon document assumes neutrality (assumes that it is the right answer) which it doesn't exemmplify. I am not trying to set up a battle or argument here. What is important for me is approaches which even if they have a point of view - which in fact we all do - recognize the range, acknowledge the range of points of view, and expect us as professionals to search for underlying assumptions, contradictions, and so on. We need to know our positions and their assumptions. We need to be HONEST. We should not blindly accept anything. So I am MORE open to materials, research, educators who can lay out the full range of possibilities, understand the assumptions behind each, and THEN can make a case for their particular conclusions. I hope that is what this list could support and I think it does. I can respectfully disagree with perspectives on literacy which are not mine. But educators better know the research, all the arguments, and have fully developed rationales, not just be arguing a perspective blindly. Sorry. I always promise myself not to get "het up." and why do I do this when I have so much to do? And I may "het up" some others? But I SO respect what the educators on this list are trying to accomplish. And the respect with which those new to the list are given. And I absolutely believe that EVERYONE on this list is dedicated to trying to do what is best for children. So to keep quiet is beyond my ability. I've been blessed (or cursed -smile) with the opportunity to see and know a much wider range of the research and the politics and so on than when I was busy in my classroom and with a growing family and so on. So I am going to go ahead and speak up. Till tomorrow. R emind me if I get caught up in busyness. I actually need to dig it out for my new Reading Certificate class just beginning this semester sallhy On 1/11/07 11:47 AM, "Amy Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > We face this decision next year and hope to be much wiser this time. I > was given to resources at a seminar in December. > Florida Center for Reading Research http://www.fcrr.org > Oregon Reading First http://oregonreadingfirst.uoregon.edu > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > 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 Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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 Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org 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.
