BUT, Renee, I think there are most definitely WRONG WAYS to teach. And some teachers really do not know the right ways. It isn't usually their fault...but we ALL know they are out there. I am thinking that it is our responsibility as professionals to build up, not only our own knowledge base but those of our colleagues. I don't believe programs are the answer...but yet I do not see our country has any systematic way for teachers to improve their craft. I can understand, on a level, why administrators want to try to ensure some level of expertise through providing teachers with a program. It is wrong-headed...it penalizes the teachers who DO have the expertise and really does little, in the end to improve the knowledge of those teachers who do need help. But what else is there? In working on my literature review for a possible dissertation research study on lesson study, I have been reading a great deal about what happens in Japan. Professional development begins at the school level. Teachers' desks are not in classrooms, but in a common area to encourage dialogue between teachers. Teachers are given time to dialogue with each other...in fact it is expected. Teachers regularly engage in lesson study, not with every lesson, but with several lessons a year...they plan together...watch each other teach and then revise the lesson and reteach. While some great lessons evolve from this process (in fact, Japanese text book companies draw from these great lessons developed by teachers and include them in their new editions), the great power and benefit comes from the process rather than the product. Teachers develop a strong knowledge of what kinds of misconceptions their students might be expected to have when content knowledge is presented in a certain way. They work together to develop great manipulatives that overcome student misconceptions. They develop "an eye to see children" (Catherine Lewis). Japanese teachers who are avid readers of American constructivist experts, particularly in math and science, have revolutionized the way they teach math and science...but it didn't come from above. It came from the practitioners...and worked up to the policy makers. Ellin, you talk about teachers not having time to read research. I think we need to change that paradigm. What if the teachers WERE the researchers? What if we deliberately took an inquiry approach at the school level and worked as teachers to figure out what would work for our schools and our students? There would be tremendous power for positive change generated by that approach. To me, that is what leadership in literacy requires....we must build capacity in the teachers and then let them do the work they are trained to do! We can complain all we want about programs...but what are we doing as a profession to ensure that our teachers have the content knowledge and pedagogical skill to be able to make effective decisions for children? That is a rhetorical question, of course, but one worth consideration by the great minds on this listserv. One thing we all do from participation on this listserv, is build content knowledge regarding the teaching of comprehension. We get newbies here on this list all the time, wanting to get started and needing information about how to go about effective comprehension instruction. We can feel good that we are helping our fellow professionals to improve their teaching when we dialogue on comprehension strategies. Jennifer In a message dated 2/22/2009 1:52:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, phoenix...@sbcglobal.net writes:
. There is no THE right way to teach. 3. Some teachers' "own thing" is far, far more effective, meaningful, interesting, and motivating than a scripted lesson that purports to be "the right thing." Renee **************You can't always choose whom you love, but you can choose how to find them. Start with AOL Personals. (http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000002) _______________________________________________ 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.
