The F&P Phonics and Word Study programs themselves are not political. There are some who believe that Balanced Literacy is not working so we need to go to the more traditional route of more phonics, complete with nonsense words and text with lack of meaning. We are looking at ways to strengthen our word study while keeping balanced literacy. That's why I'm excited about hearing what others are using. Vickie
On Sun, Feb 6, 2011 at 12:07 PM, CAG <cag...@myfairpoint.net> wrote: > Vickie - Can you share how the Phonics/Word Study piece is political? > Thanks. Cathy > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vickie Julka" < > vju...@madison.k12.wi.us> > > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" < > mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> > Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 12:56 PM > > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Phonics program > > > Kelly, >> I am especially interested in the various supports you put in place for >> your >> struggling readers. We also are a mid sized urban district using a guided >> reading/balanced literacy approach but looking for ways to fill some of >> the >> gaps we are seeing with our struggling readers. Some of our teachers are >> beginning to use Cafe, which is powerful in that it lets the kids be part >> of >> their learning discussions/directions. We are trying to be thoughtful >> about >> the task of meeting the needs of all with the resources we have, while >> staying true to our core beliefs about how children learn. >> * >> Phonics and Word Study are by no means the bulk of our curriculum, but it >> IS >> a piece. >> >> *Andrea, >> We've known for awhile that it is a piece that we need to address in a* >> *more >> systematic manner for some of our teachers, but what we are finding is >> that >> it is a huge political piece that is taking the current discussions in an >> unbalanced direction in our district. We as leaders need to share our >> experiences to keep the balance for our fragile learners, so any thoughts >> are not only appreciated but essential. >> >> >> >> >> >> On Sat, Feb 5, 2011 at 8:38 AM, Kelly Alexander <mandkalexan...@yahoo.com >> >wrote: >> >> Just a quick response....I am the curriculum specialist in a mid-sized >>> urban school district. We have completely revamped our literacy >>> instruction >>> over the past three years. We use a guided reading instruction and have >>> various support models built into our program for struggling readers. I >>> could go into much more detail about the program and what has worked and >>> what hasn't, but what I really wanted to share was that we have >>> implemented >>> the CAFE approach in grade 5 this year and it seems to be working well. >>> It >>> made a lot of sense for us to begin with our older students....and so >>> far, >>> so good. This does NOT mean that it won't be successful for your younger >>> students, in fact I believe that it will be!. I just thought it might be >>> nice for us to share our challenges and successes as we go through the >>> transition process at different grade levels this year. Good Luck! :) >>> >>> --- On Fri, 2/4/11, Andrea Jenkins <jenki...@oakhillschool.org> wrote: >>> >>> From: Andrea Jenkins <jenki...@oakhillschool.org> >>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Phonics program >>> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" < >>> mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> >>> Date: Friday, February 4, 2011, 4:23 PM >>> >>> First, I want to think everyone who responded to my post about phonics >>> programs. It was extremely helpful and has given me, as the Language Arts >>> academic team leader, some direction in helping to lead my team. >>> >>> But I want to address why I asked the question in the forum in the first >>> place. I believe COMPLETELY in teaching reading strategies. I have read >>> Mosaic numerous times and it was transformative for me in both my >>> philosophy >>> and instruction. Teaching the explicit use of reading strategies is a >>> huge >>> part of our academic team's reform of our language arts program. >>> >>> So, why would I ask a question here about phonics? Well, because I feel >>> that if I share the same philosophy as all of you about reading >>> comprehension, then chances are, we would have similar philosophies about >>> what works with phonics instruction. Phonics and Word Study are by no >>> means >>> the bulk of our curriculum, but it IS a piece. And it's a piece that we >>> need >>> to get right. I originally learned about Daily 5/CAFE from this listserv, >>> so >>> I figured many of you who were teaching reading strategies, and using the >>> D5 >>> structures, would also have sound advice about what phonics programs >>> blend >>> well with this type of instruction. >>> >>> Thank you for allowing me to pick your brains! I work at a small private >>> school. We have the beauty of selecting any curriculum we want, but it >>> also >>> means we start from scratch on selecting programs. It's so wonderful >>> having >>> a community of experienced, knowledgeable educators to turn to for sage >>> advice. >>> >>> Andrea >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "MaryJo Costello" <mcoste...@rhnet.org> >>> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" < >>> mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> >>> Cc: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org >>> Sent: Friday, February 4, 2011 7:14:59 AM >>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Phonics program >>> >>> "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" < >>> mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> writes: >>> >Does anyone have any thoughts about reading and teaching kids the >>> comprehension strategies, or are we all so >>> >pressured by RTI, phonics instruction, and standardized testing of >>> discrete skills that we've forgotten about real reading? >>> >>> In our district we are all about comprehension...thankfully. Every new >>> teacher or new to our district participates in staff development. When >>> asked >>> the question, "What is reading?" our kids respond ,"Understanding" We >>> certainly have a phonics/word study >>> component of our balanced reading framework, but comprehension is still >>> in >>> the forefront. As teaching resources we use, Strategies That Work, >>> Comprehension Connections and Reading With Meaning. For me personally I >>> have >>> also read and use The Book >>> Whiperer, To Understand and Comprehension form the Ground Up. >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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. >>> >>> >>> >> >> -- >> Vickie Julka >> Literacy Instructional Resource Teacher >> Curriculum & Assessment >> Madison Metropolitan School District >> (608)663-1974 >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > -- Vickie Julka Literacy Instructional Resource Teacher Curriculum & Assessment Madison Metropolitan School District (608)663-1974 _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. 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