Hi,
Regarding phonics, I had an extremely wise professor (28 years ago!!) that
said, "Phonics has a place, but not in reading."
Donna
________________________________
From: mosaic-bounces+storidon=ssd.k12.pa...@literacyworkshop.org on behalf
of Stewart, L
Sent: Fri 7/31/2009 12:42 PM
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] phonics instruction--long
Deirdre,
To make you feel better, I am one of those teachers who does not like to
teach phonics. I try my best, but for me it is difficult to make that
time in my classroom "fun" and I find myself continually letting the
direct instruction go in favor of editing writing in a one-on-one
conference. I think it does go back to the fact that I never received any
training (even though I have an English BS and an Elementary Ms in
education). Perhaps administrators assume it is an easy thing to teach
and figure we can all teach it well. I have been in the field for 15
years and have had very little professional development other than our
district buys knew programs (Fountas and Pinnell Word Study/Buddy Study)
and assumes we will intrinsically be proficient at teaching it. Many of
us were never taught to read through explicit phonics instruction and we
have not been sufficiently educated ourselves. Sometimes just reading a
text on our own isn't enough.
Leslie R.Stewart
Grade 3 Teacher
lstew...@branford.k12.ct.us
203-481-5386, 203-483-0749 FAX
To feel most beautifully alive means to be reading something beautiful,
ready always to apprehend in the flow of language the sudden flash of
poetry. ~ Gaston Bachelard ~
________________________________________
From: mosaic-bounces+lstewart=branford.k12.ct...@literacyworkshop.org
[mosaic-bounces+lstewart=branford.k12.ct...@literacyworkshop.org] On
Behalf Of djchan [djc...@charter.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 8:27 AM
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] phonics instruction--long
Elisa,
I guess that sentence did imply that, but it was meant as a more generic
response to teachers who don't like teaching phonics because it's boring
or
they don't comprehend the importance of it. So many teachers on other
mailrings complain about teaching phonics because all they have is an
adopted reading series from which to gain information. I suppose that
would
cause anyone to hate teaching phonics. More and better teacher training is
one answer but that's also another story.:)
Deidra Chandler
----- Original Message -----
From: "Waingort Jimenez, Elisa" <elwaingor...@cbe.ab.ca>
To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group"
<mosaic@literacyworkshop.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 2:25 AM
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] phonics instruction--long
Hi Deirdre,
It was this line in your first post that initiated my response: "Don't
abandon what the students need just because you don't like to teach it!"
Thanks for clarifying your thinking.
Elisa
Elisa Waingort
Grade 2 Spanish Bilingual
Dalhousie Elementary
Calgary, Canada
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even
touched. They must be felt within the heart.
-Helen Keller
Visit my blog, A Teacher's Ruminations, and post a message.
http://waingortgrade2spanishbilingual.blogspot.com/
Elisa,
I'm sorry you inferred from my ramblings that I think teachers on this
list
don't want to teach phonics. As someone posted earlier, I believe we all
agree that it needs to be taught, the vehicle for it's delivery is
different. I am a huge advocate for direct instruction for those who are
lagging behind. I also enjoy using guided discovery for those who are able
to identify patterns within words presented. I am a long time user of
Words
Their Way and have witnessed the increase in spelling and vocabulary from
this program. I am also trained in Multisensory Structured Language
Instruction which gives me a different perspective on phonics, spelling,
and
language. In my work with students in K-3 I have always provided a
balanced
literacy program.
I am glad we can agree on the importance of phonics in our schools.
Perhaps
our definition of phonics should include spelling patterns and language
patterns as a natural extension of our phonics instruction. I have no
plans
to be contentious about this. I, like many others, am very passionate
about
this subject and hoped to interject some clarity into the postings.
Perhaps
I overdid it with the passion thing. My apologizes.
Deidra Chandler
MA Early Childhood Ed
MA Reading
MultiSensory Structured Language Intervention Tutor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Waingort Jimenez, Elisa" <elwaingor...@cbe.ab.ca>
To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group"
<mosaic@literacyworkshop.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] phonics instruction--long
Deirdre,
Where did you get the idea that teachers, especially on this list, don't
want to teach phonics?? If anything can be said about teachers on this
list, and other lists I belong to, is that we will do whatever we need to
do
in order to help our students not only improve as readers and writers but
also create an environment that allows them to develop the intrinsic
motivation to read and write. What I don't do is teach phonics to all my
students regardless of need or teach phonics out of context. Otherwise,
whatever I think my students need and want I will teach.
Elisa
Elisa Waingort
Grade 2 Spanish Bilingual
Dalhousie Elementary
Calgary, Canada
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even
touched. They must be felt within the heart.
-Helen Keller
Visit my blog, A Teacher's Ruminations, and post a message.
http://waingortgrade2spanishbilingual.blogspot.com/
Don't abandon what the students need
just because you don't like to teach it! Or worse, don't think that
because
the phonics is imbedded in the lesson all children will internalize the
information and transfer it to working knowledge. We do need to recognize
all children's learning needs are different and accommodate accordingly.
All
children in your classroom may not need the same intensity of phonics
instruction, but some children will. Isn't it our job as teachers to teach
to and for our students?
Deidra Chandler
MA Early Childhood Ed
MA Reading
MultiSensory Structured Language Intervention Tutor
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