Anonymous wrote:Please read “The Knowledge Gap” by Natalie Wexler. Lucy Calkins is HORRIBLE. I can’t believe teachers go along with this.

Omg don’t blame the curriculum a whole district buys and says teachers have to use on the teachers. How much say do you have over how your leadership tells you to do elements of your job?

Please read “The Knowledge Gap” by Natalie Wexler. Lucy Calkins is HORRIBLE. I can’t believe teachers go along with this.

Anonymous wrote:Whole language vs. phonics instruction. I prefer whole language.

Please elaborate on why? The most current research isn't behind whole language.

And isn't blended literacy the trendy way to talk about mostly whole language with a smattering of phonics these days.

Whole language vs. phonics instruction. I prefer whole language.

My APS ES kid has phonics instruction every day. I'm not sure about in K because it was just a "language arts" block, but in 1st had both phonemic awareness and phonics, and in 2nd phonics. DC is a strong reader so admittedly haven't paid much attention, but now I'm curious if it's not really phonics, or if there are differences between schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How? We had an incomplete superintendent for 10 years.

When you have no classroom experience, no respect for teachers, no particular empathy for or interest in kids, and no willingness to admit when you’re wrong, your community just waits until you’re ready to take your pension and go.

In theory, the SB would refuse to renew your contract at some point, but....

Right? I was shocked when they quietly renewed his contract.

Anonymous wrote:Can you explain what you mean? I’m not aware but interested as an APS parent.

PP read the super long spelling and grammar thread - google Emily Hanford and read her APM reports articles or listen to the podcast. It’s enlightening.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure if this should be here or general education but how does a large school district adopt a standard of learning that is not evidence based? Now you have years of kids that haven’t really learned to read or spell. I thought teachers had autonomy but it sounds like the method of instruction and curriculum is decided by the administrators/ county.

Teacher having autonomy is an oxymoron. We do what we are told. We've been screaming that the three cueing method is not effective for years. Thankfully the science of reading has proven this to be true. Even my mom who has been helping out in schools with a tutoring program was shocked that kids weren't being taught phonics. The tutoring program wanted her to just read the text to the student and then have them read it together. When it came time for the student to read it himself, he couldn't so she tried to point out different features like "sh" makes the /sh/ sound. She said the kid had no idea. Her script told her to have the student use the pictures and the context to figure out the words.

Anonymous wrote:How? We had an incomplete superintendent for 10 years.

When you have no classroom experience, no respect for teachers, no particular empathy for or interest in kids, and no willingness to admit when you’re wrong, your community just waits until you’re ready to take your pension and go.

In theory, the SB would refuse to renew your contract at some point, but....

Op the answer is like everything in education there pendulum swings. Standardized tests to PBL. Calkins back to phonics based instruction. Education adopts one methodology, uses it for awhile, then pivots in a different direction.

Anonymous wrote:Can you explain what you mean? I’m not aware but interested as an APS parent.

Lucy Calkins is the reading curriculum in these schools. It isn’t phonics based.

Can you explain what you mean? I’m not aware but interested as an APS parent.

To be fair to APS, that methodology is pretty widespread around the country. APS is not unique in selecting it.

How? We had an incomplete superintendent for 10 years.

I’m not sure if this should be here or general education but how does a large school district adopt a standard of learning that is not evidence based? Now you have years of kids that haven’t really learned to read or spell. I thought teachers had autonomy but it sounds like the method of instruction and curriculum is decided by the administrators/ county.