Early in my career, the Great Debate was over the role of phonics instruction in the teaching of reading. This controversy that divided parents and challenged teachers was spurred by Jeanne Chall's work around the the best way to teach. While many favored child centered approaches, Chall and the "other side" proposed that teacher centered approaches would best meet the needs of all students.
It seems almost silly that we spent as much time and energy debating what seems almost like a "no brainer" in the 21st Century. Kids need (teacher presented) the tools of how to "attack" an unfamiliar word and an understanding (child centered) that reading is a meaning making process! Effective teachers provide setings where there is teacher guidance and carefully scaffolded support along with opportunities to apply learning in meaningful settings.
The other day, this study popped up on my "Twitter" page (as I read my Kindle before bedtime). It spurred my thinking about a possible new "Great Debate" that may already be brewing in parent and educational circles. Perhaps it's my own writing of grants (rejected) and that has me amazed others aren't as eager about this technology as I am! After a few days of wondering and reflecting, I am thinking there may be some fear of digital reading devices already brewing.
Certainly, there is a need for carefully controlled studies about the roles of digital books at home and at school There is also the need for parents and teachers to work together to assure our children experience the wealth of print and digital technology options to readers today. Without a doubt, digital readers cannot replace the modeling and teaching of strategies that teachers provide. Yet, we cannot close our doors to the future that our children will know as their own.
Let's hope we are not beginning a new "great debate" that will divert some of us from finding the balance essential to a society where effective teaching and opportunities for independent practice are both expected and necessary.
3 comments:
I am with you, having lived through the previous dividing cycle myself. I wonder how we can impact that debate? Maybe as you did by voicing our lessons learned.
Wow, what is really to debate? They will still need a teacher to model -a device can not- deep thinking and close reading to make meaning about what they are reading! What was the study?
Hi Amy, it was a preliminary study, but that was what got me thinking. After looking at a VERY small number of families, the group made some strong statements and published them "on the internet." See this "study."
http://spotlight.macfound.org/blog/entry/reading-matters-new-study-print-vs-e-books-for-young-children/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+macfound%2FiQaL+Spotlight+on+Digital+Media+and+Learning#When:17:50:00Z
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