My latest crusade....

Boy do I know it! My school system (elementary school principal, director of special services, a first grade teacher, the special ed resource reading teacher, the superindendant-all of whom I personally approached) did not even know that congress convened a panel to research how children learned to read. None of them were familiar with the research on reading. I gave them all a copy of the National Reading Panels report. Our school system uses “Balanced Literacy”. This too is a crusade I am on here. I have approached all the above mentioned, plus teh other elementary school principal and members of the Board of Ed. My dyslexic daughter goes to Resource room for reading and lang arts, but her reg ed teacher uses whole lang approaches with her in the classroom. The resource teacher does direct intrction in phonics, but the readers my daughter does are all predicable text, NO phonic readers at all. I also gave them all a copy of Louisa Moats “Whole Langauge Lives On”. I hope they will get it. The truth is, that IF they used a structured, systematic phonetic program, which would benefit ALL children, my daughter may not have to come out for reading. (she gets 1:1 O-G after school). The scariest thing is when I met with the resource special ed reading teacher and discussed these things with her and told her, “whole language isn’t good for most kids, but for the dyslexic it can be deleterious” she said “the woman who invented it would disagree with you. ” (first of all it was a man, second of all you can see where her reading beliefs lie-SHE DOESN’T GET IT.) I beleive that these are the examples of why No Child Left Behind has to have the strong and controversial (at least in my neck of the woods) language that it has. When for crying out loud will they get it????? Our resource rooms are full, there is not enough room in the basic skills classes to accomodate all the children who need it, many are turned away. Many more children are not reading well in the third grade and the parents are told to “give it time.”
Yikes, I guess I had to vent too!!

Keep fighting you guys, tell the rest of us what we can do to help? My older son is a victim of whole language and dysteachia.

You do all of that and still have time to answer parents’ questions and concerns. Thanks, Janis!

When I talked to my son’s principle (this woman has a PHD) about his reading issues. I mentioned that I researched remediation methods for him on ERIC. She asked, “What is ERIC?” I explained that it is an internet database of educational research.

She said she would check into it.

That is when the light went off that they weren’t going to be able to help him.

What if you doctor had no idea how to research you illness? What if he made it up as he went along?

Thanks Janis and Star. You are both brave.

Can we get you guys on Oprah? I am only half kidding. We need to shine some attention on to this issue.

Yes, go on Oprah! Maybe that would get the attention of the principal with a so-called PhD
Meanwhile, lots of clients for my tutoring if I can just convince them that soreading can actually be taught.

Better ratings than Mel Levine himself.

.

Janis,
Have you tried printing off the Louisa Moats article and putting it in all the administration mail chutes? Eh Anonymously-like. Big Bambi -eyes when they all find it? The more who get the info the more chance that it will click with someone else. Can you send them out to the PTA. Bring it up for a discussion group topic among parents?? The older I get the more I realize justice, honor, quality does not exist unless it is created. And it is created by those who care and have the courage to stand up and do so. If you told your friend, the principal that my concern is as a parent. I will be forced to withdraw my child homeschool her and I suppose pick up a private teaching class to accommodate those kids who will fail in the system you propose. (In other words become a competitor instead of a colleague. Even if it is a bit of a bluff it might shock him out of his pomposity. ) I’ve admired your integrity and just plain grit since I first saw you post on this board. I guess you’ve been chosen to be the messenger in your area. God Bless and Long Live the Systematic Phonetics Revolution!!!

I want to tell this lady I know who makes films to do a documentary on a kid that can’t read who goes through PG and learns. Maybe this would open some eyes? I know exactly how you feel. I am a teacher, I see what needs to be done and no one wants to listen. Everyone is too busy and too stressed. Oprah sounds like the right strart….I’m serious …or something like that. Better programs need to be told. Parents need to rally. This is a crises. The rich kids get tutored…..the smart parents find a way. I see a heck of a lot of poor kids who will never get it unless we change.

What can I do? I want to help.
Michelle

Ipjk wrote:
>
> Janis,
> Have you tried printing off the Louisa Moats article
> and putting it in all the administration mail chutes? Eh
> Anonymously-like. Big Bambi -eyes when they all find it? The
> more who get the info the more chance that it will click with
> someone else. Can you send them out to the PTA. Bring it up
> for a discussion group topic among parents?? The older I
> get the more I realize justice, honor, quality does not exist
> unless it is created. And it is created by those who care and
> have the courage to stand up and do so. If you told your
> friend, the principal that my concern is as a parent. I will
> be forced to withdraw my child homeschool her and I suppose
> pick up a private teaching class to accommodate those kids
> who will fail in the system you propose. (In other words
> become a competitor instead of a colleague. Even if it is a
> bit of a bluff it might shock him out of his pomposity. )
> I’ve admired your integrity and just plain grit since I first
> saw you post on this board. I guess you’ve been chosen to be
> the messenger in your area. God Bless and Long Live the
> Systematic Phonetics Revolution!!!

I am hoping that if I reply to my original post, that it will go through to all of you who responded. I want to thank you all, as it sometimes seems very lonely to fight these battles, and it really helps to hear from those who understand.

Star, I am amazed at how similar our situations are! And yes, I also sent the principal the article on the Whole Language Lives On: the illusion of balanced literacy. Louisa Moats will be speaking at our state International Dyslexia Asso. meeting in March, and I had invited the principal and LD teacher to go. They are signed up. One thing I said to him yesterday was that we hopefully could ask Louisa Moats about this program at the conference. I would be thrilled beyond belief if we can get an answer from her!

pjk, I did send the articles by email to the board member who is head of the curriculum committee, which is a misnomer as there really is no committee. I did volunteer to be on the “committee”. I urged her to bring before the board that curriculum changes should not be made without a review by the board (and curriculum committee).

Oprah? Well, she has had Mel Levine on which was really neat, so I wouldn’t put it past her to do a show on the failure of the educational system to use research based methods. But one of you will have to carry out that part of the crusade. If you get her, I’ll be glad to comment! :-)

I really don’t know the answer to the question, “What can we do?” I guess we try to make a difference in our own sphere of influence, but that somehow does not seem to be enough to put a dent in the overall problem.

Thanks again everyone! I’ll try and update you as things progress.(Especially after we go to the IDA conference with Louisa Moats.)

Janis

I have read thousands of posts from this board and the ReadNow yahoo group. I have copied many posts…..about a half a ream of paper. I feel like copying them off at Kinkos with a letter on the front saying somthing to this affect:….

What can we do to help our children learn to read? I know we have lots of problems like tardies, kids in and out, absences, drugs, divorce, poverty, yada yada yada. I know we have lots of great teachers who work hard too but not always in the most effective ways.

Now, go in and give your teachers a pop quiz. Ask them how to teach reading in one page or less. Ask them to define phonemic awareness. Look at the answers then compare those anwsers to http://dibels.uoregon.edu/index.php or the research on George Bush’s research page. If they match……great read no further. But if the answers don’t match read this packet of information because the teachers need more direction. They think they don’t , they don’t want to hear anything new chances are but……PHONEMIC AWARENESS is key.

I then will include all the testimonies I can find. I’ll tell these principals that…..these people aren’t getting paid who are on ldonline.org who taught their kids to read…..these teachers remediate……I’m not trying to sell you on a “product” or magic bullet but we need to get back to teaching reading with research based strategies that work.

I might include a copy of Reading Reflex with a sticker on the front saying…here is one way….not the only way…..lets get a group of people to research other “effective” schools. Let’s stop making excuses.

Maybe I’ll get one of the 50 or so elementary principals to see the light. I think I’d send one to each school board member too.

What do you think? I’m kind of serious. I think it would cost me about $1000 dollars….my attempt to convert to at least say I gave it my best chance.

I would also say that if we all got on the same page in the district….that when the kids change schools as they do so often….the kid would have the same techniques.

I want your opinions. I know I can’t change the world…but maybe I can get someone to change…..

I found the dibels site AWESOME. Have you checked it out?
Michelle

Michelle,

I think you have a lot of passion and you will make a big difference in your corner of the world! But I would say for both of us, we probably need to concentrate first on getting good at PG and a few other select things before we try to convince others. Our success will be the proof that there are effective methods. However, it certainly would make sense to try to begin educating the administrators at your own school. Win just one principal over and his/her influence can spread to others. I have invited two principals of my schools to go to the IDA conference (besides my child’s principal). I also shared information about Dibels with my principal. She was starting an after school reading tutoring program and all kids were going to be doing the same thing! There was no intention of trying to find out where the deficits were!

I think giving a copy of Reading Reflex along with the IDA journal article about it plus one that summarizes the reading research would be plenty to give your current principal. Then, as you come into contact with others, you can give out more. But there is no proof like sitting at an IEP meeting with improved test scores. That is what I am hoping to do.

Good luck and never give up doing what is best for kids!

Janis

Michelle,

You are inspiring. I have to give this more thought. I am definitely a crusader by nature.

I am one who taught my child to read. It pains me to see others fail because of systems that just don’t work. Maybe some emails.

Our situations are quite alike. I am in NJ, wish you were too! 1 1/2 yrs ago our Child Study Team failed my daughter, they declassified her and said she had no learning difficulites. (long story) I remember crossing the parking lot to my car in tears saying “Who is going to help my child?” Of course, the answer was me. I had to learn all I could about special ed laws and the issues that faced my daughter (dyslexia). I researched reading ect. I still am learning. Of course my focus is always my daughter, but then I realized taht so many children are being done a tragic disservice. I run a parent support group to help educate parents that if you don’t know,( your rights, the laws, your childs areas of concern ect) your kids are at a huge disadvantage. Period.
The schools have got to change to reading programs that are researched-based and proven to be effective. I beleive that parents need to play an active role to see that this is done.
Thank you all for your kind words, support and encouragement.
Oprah seems like a nice person, she would listen.

I’d like to see Dateline or 220/20 doing a a series on : No Child Left Behind. I’d like to see them cover: What is a research based reading program and then look and distrricts and see if they are offering these programs and then highlight one district that is doing it right.

Helen

Guess what? I wrote an email to Susan Long Hall who is co-author with Louisa Moats for a couple of new books on reading. She is (or has been) also president of the IDA in IL. I asked her about Four Blocks Literacy. I will quote you her reply:

“I’m afraid that you are right about 4 Blocks. It doesn’t have the systematic and explicit instruction that is needed. Ask about independent objective research providing evidence that it works with diverse learners.

I think it is a far cry from what the NRP advises. No where is there evidence that 4 Blocks adequately teaches phonics and phonemic awareness as advised in the National Reading Panel report.”

Yes, I immediately fowarded it to the principal.

Janis

Good for you.

BTW, I just went to a panel discussion and interviewed all the candidates for our new principal tonight since my principal is retiring. Parents and teachers got to interview informally. It was fun.

You can bet I asked them each their stance on where they sit between whole language and phonics…..I voted for the one who knew about phonemic awarenss and not the “balanced approach”.

Same to YOU! It’s great that you had the opportunity to ask those questions! Now to hope they hire the right one!

Thanks!
Janis (ps, I assume you read all the messages about what readers to use with PG, right?)

n/t

Hey Janis,
Could I impose on you to check out another program. Your response will go to my email. Have you heard of Put Reading First?
Star

Star, I can’t say that I have heard of Put Reading First. I think there is something called Reading First. Is this what your school is using?

Janis

Star, do you mean the booklet put out by the National Reading Panel (or one of the reading research organizations) called “Put Reading First”? If so, yes, I have that. It’s great. What program do you want to check?

Janis

Janis,
The Stevenson Program.
I gave the Put Reading First to the superindenent ect. Our resource room use Stevenson.
Star

Star,

I believe I have recently read criticism of Stevenson on this board. And it is not listed as one of the good MSSL programs on this site, on the Schwab site, or in my book “Straight Talk About Reading” by Louisa Moats and Susan Hall. I searched a couple of other sites and couldn’t come up with anything either. So I would be concerned.

You could try asking Susan Hall like I did. Here is her site:

http://www.proactiveparent.com/

Let me know what you find out.
Janis