Several years ago, I saw a news report on a method of teaching a class full of school children to read. It was based on phonics, but involved a call and response system between the children and the teacher.
According to the report, this method was invented back in the early '60’s, and there were mountains of empirical data to show it was the most effective way for teaching a class full of children to read. Despite that, most school systems rejected it because it was too labor-intensive for the teacher. Also, public education fell in love with the “Whole Language” method.
I have searched a long time to find out the name of the method. Every teacher I’ve asked has never heard of it.
I put “phonics,” “call and response,” and “reading” into Google and got some websites that mentioned something called “Direct Instruction.” Here’s a URL:
Is this what you’re thinking of?
Thank you, Wen. I’ve never used Google before. I guess the right search engine makes all the difference. I have used those exact same phrases in my searches, but never found what I was looking for.
Z
apparently, schools aren’t teaching kids to read at all, anymore.-- or, at least, not too well—
read on-
http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/041201/opi_0412010038.shtml
Great article! Thanks for the link, Ad. You can also read some very interesting information about schools and choice at http://www.sepschool.org
ZK
I think there must be better places to have this discussion, but there are some points that should be included here. First, schools get no credit for what does work in America, only blame. When the economy was tanking in the early 80’s, out came A Nation at Risk to blame the schools. The economy went through the roof, but did anyone suggest that it was because of the schools? Nope - more scorn and criticism. Second, what do you think the reading levels of kids would be without tv’s at home to babysit them, with parents home to raise them, to read to them, with parents around who read, themselves, etc? How many kids do you think have a TV in their bedrooms? A VCR? A shelf of books? Third, “Whole Language,” for the ininitiated, does not rule out the use of phonics in reading instruction. It embraces its use at the right time, in the most effective contexts, etc. It is comprised of WHOLE language - not simply one methodology for all kids. Fourth, the nutcases who want the government out of education speak fairly literately. They’re proud of the ideas they’ve hatched. Where did they get THEIR education? The simpler the solution to complex problems, the less likely the proponents understand the situation. Finally, the roles of schools has changed more than most people realize. Schools are expected to not only educate but to raise the children. In this day and age, what is keeping people from teaching their children some things at home? Laziness, ingonorance, and their own greed, as many of them have babies and then go off to work, leaving their kids in day care so they can afford an SUV. There’s before school day care, after school day care, and requests for more afterschool programs, character education, computer education, etc. etc. And you want to ask why don’t the schools do all this stuff better? On their own? Jeez.
CC,
You say this isn’t the forum for this type of discussion, but you don’t hesitate do so any, eh?
It is true that it is a hasty generalization to accuse or credit schools for changes in the economy.
On the other hand, there are plenty of bumper stickers that say: “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” Who do we blame if you can’t read it?
By the way, the “nutcases” you refer to have been around since compulsory public education was started in 1850 in this country, and much earlier in Europe ( I refer you to the writings of Herbert Spencer).
I want what works best for my child, and “Whole Language” isn’t it. But I’ve found that if you don’t have a Master’s degree in Reading, you don’t know what you’re talking about as far as the school administration is concerned. If I have to teach my child to read in spite of the school, the administration, and an army of education elitists, then I will.
Sadly, all it takes is one good teacher who realizes that some students learn best with whole language, others best with the phonics approach, and to simply teach both in his/her classroom. People are so concerned with the politics and economics of schools that they’ve forgotten about why they’re really there. Teachers work damn hard, and its a shame people don’t realize it. It’s a shame teachers have become babysitters in peoples eyes - there is so much more to teaching than giving a kid paper and crayons and keeping an eye on them while you go off to work.
But as CC said, this is probably the wrong place for any of this. Lets just say I’m the daughter of a teacher, and the niece of another, and have known teachers all my life both as a student and as a friend. zencat wants whats best for his(her?) child and that’s understandable. Just remember that the parents are the most important teachers children will ever have, and if it takes a couple of hours of your time to help your child read, don’t blame the school system. The teachers do what they can with limited resources and limited time and 30 other children demanding attention - they provide the basics, but as far as I’m concerned, it IS the responsibility of the parent to make sure his/her child takes home what they learn in school, and use it there, too. Read to your child, add with your child, teach them to count by making numbered chocolate chip cookies. Your child will learn better with your help, will remember that you helped them, and will help their children the same way. It is not working overtime to help your child learn. And it will solve half of what’s wrong with education today.