Basal Reading program - Kindergarten

[Anonymous]

I know there has been a lot of discussion around the new LA program, which, as I understand it, is state-wide and signed into law by Governor Youngkin (so, I assume, was not implemented with "equity" in mind).

Our son's K teacher hates it. We are in a "high performing" ES and she thinks it's poorly constructed and also limits how much the students can learn.

But because it does not seem to be a DEI program, I'm having a hard time believing that its garbage and disproportionately negatively impacts non DEI students.

She encouraged us to complain to the school board, but if it's state-wide, is the board really all that helpful?

Others?

[Anonymous]

Different school systems have chosen different elementary Language Arts curricula. There is not just one. Arlington County picked CKLA while Fairfax County picked Benchmark, for example.

What DID change is that the VA Legislature passed a law with very broad support from both political parties to require "Science of Reading" be used. This is a mandate that scientifically valid methods be used to teach reading and closely related subjects.

The net effect is that the widely discredited Lucy Calkins "Readers Workshop" / balanced literacy / whole language crap now is forbidden in any VA public school. This is a VERY good thing.

[Anonymous]

The push for "Science of Reading" was driven by local NAACP chapter(s). They wanted reading taught in a way that would work for all students.

I am not affiliated with the NAACP, but I am very grateful they pushed for this.

[Anonymous]

The Science of Reading was pushed by NAACP and the dyslexia moms. It benefits their kids mostly who have problems with phonics.

[Anonymous]

Science of Reading is centered on Phonics but it also has other things.

[Anonymous]

My child's K teacher thinks the curriculum itself is good, it's not really developmentally appropriate for Kindergarteners in that it's a 2 hour block and requires a lot of sitting. She said she mainstreams the important bits of it and they have a 15 min movement break in the middle of it.

[Anonymous]

Ok I'm SO confused. What is BASAL then? She specifically said BASAL was the problem and that it was state-wide. I'm lost.

Anonymous wrote:Different school systems have chosen different elementary Language Arts curricula. There is not just one. Arlington County picked CKLA while Fairfax County picked Benchmark, for example.

What DID change is that the VA Legislature passed a law with very broad support from both political parties to require "Science of Reading" be used. This is a mandate that scientifically valid methods be used to teach reading and closely related subjects.

The net effect is that the widely discredited Lucy Calkins "Readers Workshop" / balanced literacy / whole language crap now is forbidden in any VA public school. This is a VERY good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Science of Reading was pushed by NAACP and the dyslexia moms. It benefits their kids mostly who have problems with phonics.

So it is an equity thing?? That Republicans/Youngkin supported?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Science of Reading was pushed by NAACP and the dyslexia moms. It benefits their kids mostly who have problems with phonics.

So it is an equity thing?? That Republicans/Youngkin supported?

No. It is "teach kids to read using methods which are validated to work for all kids". Non-partisan issue. Both parties fully supported the new law. Youngkin signed, but it was a grass roots thing state wide.

[Anonymous]

Get the podcast "Sold a Story" about how the Lucy Calkins "Readers workshop" curriculum was marketed widely but dis not work for most kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Science of Reading was pushed by NAACP and the dyslexia moms. It benefits their kids mostly who have problems with phonics.

So it is an equity thing?? That Republicans/Youngkin supported?

No. It is "teach kids to read using methods which are validated to work for all kids". Non-partisan issue. Both parties fully supported the new law. Youngkin signed, but it was a grass roots thing state wide.

To be fair the way most people use equity in a derogatory manner, this would fall into their definition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Science of Reading was pushed by NAACP and the dyslexia moms. It benefits their kids mostly who have problems with phonics.

So it is an equity thing?? That Republicans/Youngkin supported?

Sort of. The research showed that black kids were more behind in reading and that was because phonics was lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Science of Reading was pushed by NAACP and the dyslexia moms. It benefits their kids mostly who have problems with phonics.

So it is an equity thing?? That Republicans/Youngkin supported?

No. It's a common sense thing. Which is hyper-rare in modern America, so let's be grateful for it.

Wierdly phonics was right-coded for a long time before the NAACP picked it up and made it bi-partisan.

There's not a lot of consensus out there, and this one was a blessed relief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Science of Reading was pushed by NAACP and the dyslexia moms. It benefits their kids mostly who have problems with phonics.

So it is an equity thing?? That Republicans/Youngkin supported?

Sort of. The research showed that black kids were more behind in reading and that was because phonics was lacking.

Lucy Calkins was basically guessing words in context and word memorization. It was assumed that students would pick up reading just from being around a lot of words and talking about books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Science of Reading was pushed by NAACP and the dyslexia moms. It benefits their kids mostly who have problems with phonics.

So it is an equity thing?? That Republicans/Youngkin supported?

Sort of. The research showed that black kids were more behind in reading and that was because phonics was lacking.

Kids of all ethnic backgrounds were behind, not just AfA kids.