Yes, I pushed to bring Fundations, many years ago, into my school believing that a set phonics/word study program would support decoding and spelling. I researched and looked critically at the program. It was NEVER meant to be a READING program.
Yes, I've read and looked critically at Anita Archer, and other's work on Explicit Teaching and recognize the benefits of direct instruction in some aspects of language learning. I agree there are concepts/skills/ times when direct teaching is beneficial.
Yes, I've read and looked critically at Scarborough's Rope Theory and recognize the benefit of considering reading as as the complex activity it is.
Yes, I also look critically at as well as embrace Reading & Writing Workshops that have changed teaching and learning in many positive ways and have supported generations of students who embrace reading not just as a task but as a means to learn and grow and connect.
Yes, I was surprised this week when I read that Teachers College Reading and Writing Program had been disbanded, even though I have heard teachers talking about the end of Reading Records and Balanced Literacy. I'm not sure how much the renaming will change things or if the political and economic climate are factors.
Yes, I've been in this business long enough to know that there is no one way to reach all readers and those of us who want to reach everyone need to embrace the 5 Pillars of Reading along with meaningful ways to grow readers and writers, in spaces where they read books they enjoy and write about meaningful topics.
Yes, in my opinion, we need to focus less on the business of selling programs and more on empowering teachers to reach all the diverse students in their classes.
Yes, this is a bit of a rant. Thanks for letting get my thoughts down on paper,
