Ch. 4 The Subject Matters
I never really knew all of the debates and different sides of the academic subjects we teach today. It keeps showing how political education is and who is making these decisions for education. Why are they making these decisions for education? Who should be making these decisions?
One issue I agree with is the balanced approach to literacy. It is not getting rid of any certain approach like conventional spelling for example, but is balancing the skills and knowledge about literacy and learning. Even if views of reading change through the different cycles of literacy education, a balanced approach will still be beneficial because we are using multiple approaches in a balanced way. Benji Chang, the first grade teacher, showed a great example of balance in his story about using the basal and tying in multicultural literature. The balanced literacy approach also ties in the importance of home/school connection with literacy to provide more opportunities to build on home languages and cultures. I feel I use a balanced approach the most in my classroom setting-a variety is the best option for me.
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Hi Jen! I hope the run/walk was successful on Saturday! I agree that a balanced approach to literacy is also what works best in my classroom. My county actually expects us to use Open Court Phonics. I don’t think anything is wrong with it, as long as you’re pulling what your class will benefit from from the program and/or adding to it.
It baffles me that so many people get to make major educational decisions without even being involved in eduation. Sometimes I think people forget that teachers not only know what’s best for their students, but they also want what’s best for their students. Why aren’t we the major influence in some of these decisions?
I also agree with the balanced approach to literacy. I use this approach in my classroom and I feel are successful with it. This chapter kind of confused me a little because I couldn’t understand why there couldn’t be a little of both perspectives being taught in the classrooms. I read a story the other day about these teachers taking supplies from the custodians closet for their classroom without writing down what they were taking. The principal questioned the custodian and he said that they usually write down what they have taken within the week and givesw it to the custodian. The principal then asked “Can we trust our teachers to write the stuff down and give it to you?” The custodian replied, “We trust them with our children, don’t we?” While this story is fiction, it cries out a big message…Are we as teachers being treated as professionals? Why aren’t we being given a say in what we think is important and appropriate to teach our students?