Thank you for saying so eloquently what I wanted to say! Mrs. Marsha Foltermann 6th grade, ELAR 903-462-7307 For a conference, please call the office: 903-462-7200
mfolterm...@denisonisd.net -----Original Message----- From: mosaic-bounces+mfoltermann=denisonisd....@literacyworkshop.org [mailto:mosaic-bounces+mfoltermann=denisonisd....@literacyworkshop.org] On Behalf Of Dluhos Sara (31R024) Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 1:00 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Middle schools to drop reading classes As an English Language Arts teacher, I completely disagree with the idea of dropping literacy classes and having it incorporated into the content areas. There must be a separate place to learn, model and practice the skills required for reading both fiction and non-fiction. I teach these skills in my classroom, and they are carried over in social studies, science, etc. Unless those subject area teacchers are ALSO certified literacy teacchers, then this system is doomed to fail. I also havce noticed that with the Common Core Standards, there is a huge push towards non-fiction. Of course. Why should kids actually ENJOY reading books like Twilight or The Hunger Games? Give them boring textbooks to read all day and then we will have a generation of robots.... Sounds like a bright future to me! Mrs. Sara Dluhos Barnes IS24 "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin ________________________________________ From: mosaic-bounces+sdluhos=schools.nyc....@literacyworkshop.org [mosaic-bounces+sdluhos=schools.nyc....@literacyworkshop.org] on behalf of Foltermann, Marsha [mfolterm...@denisonisd.net] Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 12:35 PM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Middle schools to drop reading classes I totally agree with you Lisa---totally, totally different type of reading between fiction and nonfiction materials. IF the content teachers will 'teach' the essential skills of literacy in order to comprehend non-fiction materials then I can understand this decision. From my personal life experiences I have witnessed the content teachers struggling to teach their full curriculum as it is, so I think it will be even more stressful for them to have added curriculum. There is no way they can continue to teach a full science curriculum AND add a reading/literacy curriculum without more time. Something has to be eliminated or 'watered down'. Of course integration is the desired method, but simply because I have worked with content teachers who refused to support reading and literacy I guess I am just pessimistic about the success of this new curriculum. I strongly believe we must put kids first, so of course I WANT this new plan to work! In reality, I have recently completed a Master's Degree in reading and I am a certified reading specialist. Fresh on my mind is the knowledge that I gained about the power of politics in American schools. Forgive me please for being negative. Mrs. Marsha Foltermann 6th grade, ELAR 903-462-7307 For a conference, please call the office: 903-462-7200 mfolterm...@denisonisd.net -----Original Message----- From: mosaic-bounces+mfoltermann=denisonisd....@literacyworkshop.org [mailto:mosaic-bounces+mfoltermann=denisonisd....@literacyworkshop.org] On Behalf Of Ward, Lisa Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 9:53 AM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Middle schools to drop reading classes Literacy in the content areas does look different and should be taught in each content. Teaching a blanket "reading" does not support students in each content. I think that this is what the article is talking about. We made a move in our district to do just this... reading a biology book looks totally different than reading a novel, and who better to teach their students about "how" to read a biology book than a biology teacher. Our Junior Highs and High Schools are teaching students how to think through Content Literacy. I assume the content area of English with include the reading of fiction. Just my thoughts :) Lisa -----Original Message----- From: mosaic-bounces+wardl=laramie1....@literacyworkshop.org [mailto:mosaic-bounces+wardl=laramie1....@literacyworkshop.org] On Behalf Of Renee Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 8:00 AM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Middle schools to drop reading classes It looked to me, in the article, that it is being shifted to the content areas, that it would be addressed specifically in the content areas. I have no problem with this. I am not a middle school teacher, but frankly it seems weird to me to have a "reading" class in middle school, although maybe it is just what they used to call "english" class and if it means that the kids are no longer going to be reading any fiction, then I say it's a big, big mistake. Renee On Jan 26, 2012, at 4:27 AM, Troy F wrote: > Is reading being taught in another way than traditional reading > classes? Is it being integrated across the cirriculum? It better not > be completely dropped. > > Troy Fredde > > On Jan 25, 2012, at 10:15 PM, Deborah Lawson <deblawso...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> I don't understand the thinking, but it is very scary. I hope >> Missouri does not follow suit. >> >> Deborah Lawson >> >> On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 12:48 PM, Mena <drmarinac...@aol.com> wrote: >> >>> >>> Does anyone understand the thinking behind this decision? ...From, >>> Mena >>> >>> Middle schools to drop traditional reading classes >>> >>> >>> By Sara Toth, >>> January 20, 2012 >>> >>> >>> A new schedule is coming for county middle schools, and it will not >>> include traditional reading classes. >>> The Howard County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the >>> proposed change Thursday, Jan. 26, and according to board Vice >>> Chairman Frank Aquino, "This is going to pass at some time or >>> another, whether it's next week or next year." >>> Under the new schedule, all Howard County middle schools would have >>> a 50-minute, seven-period schedule, as opposed to current variations >>> on a 45-minute, eight-period day. >>> >>> The changes have been roundly denounced by county teachers, who >>> packed a public hearing last week to voice their opposition. >>> The changes are being considered in the wake of a new state >>> curriculum that emphasizes infusing literacy instruction into all >>> content areas, said Clarissa Evans, executive director of school >>> improvement and curricular program. School officials say stand-alone >>> reading class is inconsistent with the new curriculum, which goes >>> into effect for the 2012-13 academic year. >>> On Thursday, Jan. 19, a four-hour long work session with the board >>> and central office staff members resulted in several scheduling >>> options being presented for consideration next week, all based >>> around freeing involved teachers from administrative duties or >>> meetings during the implementation period. >>> One possibility, said William Ryan, executive director of school >>> improvement and administration, is to have an every-other-day >>> planning period for those teachers, who already have one planning >>> period devoted to administrative duties like lunch supervision or >>> collaborative planning meetings. >>> Another option allowing the teachers a program planning period every >>> day is on the table, but that would require an additional teacher at >>> each of the middle schools, said Linda Wise, chief academic officer, >>> and would cost >>> $1.3 million. >>> "It's staggering to me," she said. "We don't believe that's >>> necessary." >>> Under the proposed changes, all students would have an English >>> Language Arts class and below-grade readers would also have a >>> reading-specific class during the school day. At- or above-level >>> readers could take an "advanced inquiry and innovation" course, like >>> economic literacy. >>> . >>> The system would not eliminate explicit reading instruction for >>> students who need it, Evans said, and reading instruction in other >>> classes would not just be "tacked on at the end of the class." >>> Rather, middle schools will undergo a massive change in curriculum, >>> and "content-area" teachers - like those who teach science, social >>> studies or math - would have lessons several times a week that focus >>> on critical reading and response skills. >>> "We're restructuring to an extent that I think is greater than >>> people understand in all classes to emphasize literacy skills," she said. >>> >>> >>> >>> Philomena Marinaccio-Eckel, Ph.D. >>> Florida Atlantic University >>> Dept. of Teaching and Learning >>> College of Education >>> 2912 College Ave. ES 214 >>> Davie, FL 33314 >>> Phone: 954-236-1070 >>> Fax: 954-236-1050 >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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.or > g > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive > > Violence is not inevitable. Peace is there for us in every moment. It is our choice. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
