Pat...I can tell you briefly what I think works about Wilson Fundations... it is the keyword/letter/sound association. Learning a consistent picture and keyword really helps struggling kids internalize that letter sound relationship. I also liked the skywriting---the use of large muscle movements helps the tactile kinesthetic kids.
I think what is missing, even from Cunningham (who I love and borrow from all the time), is the idea that word learning has a developmental component. When we teach a phonics skill whole class there is only a small group ready for it. Often 1/3 of the class already knows it... and another 1/3 is not ready. Small group instruction based on developmental assessments of word knowledge (like Words their Way) really made the ultimate difference for me. There is no point drilling vowel digraphs when the child cannot even associate consonant sounds with a letter. This is why I myself used Renees approach... poetry. Carefully choosing poems, I could work with students in small needs groups on phonics skills while the other students read. AND yes lots of opportunities to apply phonics through reading at an independent and instructional level... along with many opportunities to write... And of course, we need balance. In the early grades I think 1/3 of the time on decoding and 2/3 on comprehension is about right. Jennifer L. Palmer Instructional Facilitator National Board Certified Teacher Magnolia Elementary (home school) 901 Trimble Road Joppa, MD 21085 410-612-1553 Fax 410-612-1576 "In every child a touch of greatness!!' Proud of our Title One School Norrisville Elementary 5302 Norrisville Road White Hall, MD 21161 410-692-7810 Fax 410-692-7812 Where Bright Futures Begin!! ________________________________________ From: mosaic-bounces+jennifer.palmer=hcps....@literacyworkshop.org [mosaic-bounces+jennifer.palmer=hcps....@literacyworkshop.org] on behalf of Patricia Kimathi [pkima...@earthlink.net] Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 9:33 AM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] phonics program I thank you so much for your post. I love this listserv and value the ideas I have been able to gather from other members. I also value how it allows be to think through my own ideas and hopefully share ideas with others. I find that this is happening less in schools. I know that this year the teachers I work with are veterans who have a wealth of knowledge, but is has been awhile. On this listserv I have always been able to think through my own beliefs. I do use many methods with children based on their needs. I usually chose and pick what I need from programs. This year we are using a program that has taken from many different programs so I can use what I have always used and say it is based on their program. I tweak what they have to match what I need to teach. I can really see growth. But the core of everything is Mosaic and the reading comprehension strategies I have learned from this work. Please continue to share ideas and be kind to each other as you do it. Even those of us who would like to be purest can gain information from each other. I am now interested in how you were able to use parts of Wilson with Mosaic. I will not ask you to share on the list so not to bore others, but I am interested. PatK On Feb 17, 2012, at 3:52 PM, Palmer, Jennifer wrote: > I learned a lesson about listening and learning from colleagues > with different opinions. And, when my attitude shifted, my > supervisor was more willing to listen to me and give me the > flexibility I needed to do what I felt was right for kids. Education > is about relationships... I would argue that online relationships > are worth protecting as well. Let's think about how we might protect > those relationships here before we send off an emotionally charged > post. > > As for a common belief system,I think we'd better be careful with > our assumptions. It's time for a reality check. We have thousands of > members and I can pretty much assure you that there are many > different beliefs represented here. PatK _______________________________________________ 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
