Lucy Calkins admits she was wrong - stop using this outdated method to teach reading

[Anonymous]

https://www.apmreports.org/story/2020/10/16/influential-literacy-expert-lucy-calkins-is-changing-her-views


I’m not a teacher, I did not study literacy instruction, but I do know that this is huge - the way my kid was taught to read in Kindergarten did NOT work for her and now the woman who promoted that method is walking it back and admitting that phonics, deciding, and sounding out words is what works. I hope all those teachers out there that are using this outdated method (cueing, guessing, looking at pictures first) listen and go back to the basics. My child is in second grade and we will be working on undoing the damage done by her kindergarten teacher for years to come.

[Anonymous]

huh? never heard of this. I'm 40 and did phonics. My kids did phonics.

[Anonymous]

Didn't Arlington just buy this curriculum?

[Anonymous]

I hope she's really, actually walking it back and not just putting lipstick on a pig. After all, Fairfax says it teaches "blended literacy," which is really just the cueing of Calkins with a tiny bit of phonics smattered around the edges.

I too am still working to undo damage done by this way for a child. I feel stressed to teach a preschooler to learn to read so that she won't even try to use the stupid picture/first letter cues. It's not good.

[Anonymous]

Will they bring back spelling word lists/quizes? Vocab books for 1st grade +?
Gasp!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope she's really, actually walking it back and not just putting lipstick on a pig. After all, Fairfax says it teaches "blended literacy," which is really just the cueing of Calkins with a tiny bit of phonics smattered around the edges.

I too am still working to undo damage done by this way for a child. I feel stressed to teach a preschooler to learn to read so that she won't even try to use the stupid picture/first letter cues. It's not good.

OP here. Same. My preschooler is going learn how to read before K and I am going to have a meeting with the principal to confirm that he is placed with a teacher that is teaching using a phonics-based approach before he starts there (and going to say definitely NO to the K teacher my 2nd grader had).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will they bring back spelling word lists/quizes? Vocab books for 1st grade +?
Gasp!

NP but my child's teacher just said he doesn't know vocabulary but didn't give me any tips for improving that (teacher is wrong, child has a great vocabulary, but just refuses to talk in class or small groups).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope she's really, actually walking it back and not just putting lipstick on a pig. After all, Fairfax says it teaches "blended literacy," which is really just the cueing of Calkins with a tiny bit of phonics smattered around the edges.

I too am still working to undo damage done by this way for a child. I feel stressed to teach a preschooler to learn to read so that she won't even try to use the stupid picture/first letter cues. It's not good.

NP. I used some phonics readers to teach my kids to read in the spring and summer before kindergarten. One picked it up in 2 weeks, one in two months. And then both were reading chapter books in K and 1st.

For a long time, I had mixed feelings about whether it was necessary or a good idea, or whether I should have waited and let their teachers teach them. When my younger DC came home and told me that his 1st grade teacher said that good readers look at the pictures, I knew that I had done the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope she's really, actually walking it back and not just putting lipstick on a pig. After all, Fairfax says it teaches "blended literacy," which is really just the cueing of Calkins with a tiny bit of phonics smattered around the edges.

I too am still working to undo damage done by this way for a child. I feel stressed to teach a preschooler to learn to read so that she won't even try to use the stupid picture/first letter cues. It's not good.

NP. I used some phonics readers to teach my kids to read in the spring and summer before kindergarten. One picked it up in 2 weeks, one in two months. And then both were reading chapter books in K and 1st.

For a long time, I had mixed feelings about whether it was necessary or a good idea, or whether I should have waited and let their teachers teach them. When my younger DC came home and told me that his 1st grade teacher said that good readers look at the pictures, I knew that I had done the right thing.

PP here. We have BOB books, but I took a relaxed approach with my older kids and didn't push it too hard. The one who picked it up before K never bothered with the cueing. The one who didn't want to is the one I have to work with now. So now I will push it with my youngest, which may not be the most developmentally appropriate thing there is. Then again, neither is cueing, so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will they bring back spelling word lists/quizes? Vocab books for 1st grade +?
Gasp!

NP but my child's teacher just said he doesn't know vocabulary but didn't give me any tips for improving that (teacher is wrong, child has a great vocabulary, but just refuses to talk in class or small groups).

FWIW, my kid has a great vocabulary but still enjoys the Wordly Wise series.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope she's really, actually walking it back and not just putting lipstick on a pig. After all, Fairfax says it teaches "blended literacy," which is really just the cueing of Calkins with a tiny bit of phonics smattered around the edges.

I too am still working to undo damage done by this way for a child. I feel stressed to teach a preschooler to learn to read so that she won't even try to use the stupid picture/first letter cues. It's not good.

Go to https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiainitiative/ and the October 21st post. They do not think she has seen the light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope she's really, actually walking it back and not just putting lipstick on a pig. After all, Fairfax says it teaches "blended literacy," which is really just the cueing of Calkins with a tiny bit of phonics smattered around the edges.

I too am still working to undo damage done by this way for a child. I feel stressed to teach a preschooler to learn to read so that she won't even try to use the stupid picture/first letter cues. It's not good.

OP here. Same. My preschooler is going learn how to read before K and I am going to have a meeting with the principal to confirm that he is placed with a teacher that is teaching using a phonics-based approach before he starts there (and going to say definitely NO to the K teacher my 2nd grader had).

Teachers don’t pick and choose what to use. They are told what to use.

[Anonymous]

Districts started to DROP her curriculum. She has never followed the science of reading. Her curriculum also doesn't promote knowledge. It's all about the $$$ for her. So sick of her cult and the teachers who think she is great. They have HARMED a generation or two of students in this country. Disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope she's really, actually walking it back and not just putting lipstick on a pig. After all, Fairfax says it teaches "blended literacy," which is really just the cueing of Calkins with a tiny bit of phonics smattered around the edges.

I too am still working to undo damage done by this way for a child. I feel stressed to teach a preschooler to learn to read so that she won't even try to use the stupid picture/first letter cues. It's not good.

OP here. Same. My preschooler is going learn how to read before K and I am going to have a meeting with the principal to confirm that he is placed with a teacher that is teaching using a phonics-based approach before he starts there (and going to say definitely NO to the K teacher my 2nd grader had).

Why would you trust evidence based techniques on one aspect of learning to read, phonics, but ignore the whole part about not pushing kids to read too soon/before they’re ready and not to stress about it? If you read to/with your kid, they’ll learn to read, despite whatever technique they are learning in school. Try not to stress over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope she's really, actually walking it back and not just putting lipstick on a pig. After all, Fairfax says it teaches "blended literacy," which is really just the cueing of Calkins with a tiny bit of phonics smattered around the edges.

I too am still working to undo damage done by this way for a child. I feel stressed to teach a preschooler to learn to read so that she won't even try to use the stupid picture/first letter cues. It's not good.

OP here. Same. My preschooler is going learn how to read before K and I am going to have a meeting with the principal to confirm that he is placed with a teacher that is teaching using a phonics-based approach before he starts there (and going to say definitely NO to the K teacher my 2nd grader had).

Teachers teach what the district or school tells them too. If one K teacher at a school was using the Calkins method then they all were. If one K teacher is using a phonics based approach they all are. So you want to see what the school's curriculum is, and then know that all teachers teach from that.