[This post is in response to a number of e-mail requests from beginning reading teachers. Criticism welcomed. Peace.]
Dear Parent:
Reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic - the 3 R’s - are the foundation of formal education. Notice which one comes first.
My name is _______________ . I have the privilege of being _______________’s reading teacher this school year. It is an awesome responsibility, but I have been trained for the job and I am looking forward to it.
You might have been told that the teacher is the most important factor in a child’s education. That is very flattering, but I do not agree. I believe a child is the most important factor.
The GOOD NEWS: Nearly everyone can learn to read something. [Probably no one can read everything.] (1) A healthy, well-nourished, rested, confident, secure child who understands many words when he listens and speaks has the potential to become a fluent reader. That is not enough. (2) Learning to read requires cooperation. The child must want to read with sufficient sincerity that he is willing to put forth the necessary effort. Self-motivation is far more important for progress than the external motivation of teachers and parents.
Third and fourth on my list are: (3) appropriate teaching materials and a clear method for using them, and (4) the task (teacher and parent) of giving a child the needed practice in “saying” words (silently and aloud) so that he is able to say them accurately, instantly, and effortlessly to get meaning from text.
Most parents read to their children. That is helpful. I seek to teach the skills that will enable my students to read to their parents. I welcome your assistance. I will be happy to supply you with some short, specific reading vocabulary lessons that are designed to provide effective, joyous reading instruction.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience. I welcome your questions, comments, and the opportunity to explain why I teach reading as I do.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
____________
Re: Parent Letter
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I’m not exactly sure that I understand your question. Are you asking for the vocabulary from your child’s reading book? Or are you looking for a good vocabulary series? For the first, I would have the child’s teacher provide it to you. If your child brings his/her reading book home, you can get the words yourself..
If you’re looking for a great series to teach vocabulary, I’d get Wordly Wise from Educators Publishing Service (www.eps.com). There are many different levels. It’s a great series for school children of all grades.
Marilyn
Re: Parent Letter
Dear Parent,
I have assembled a word list and a number of short, beginning reading lessons. My MINIMUM objective is to enable my students to “say” the 100l words and 20 symbols that account for 75% of all the English words in print.
I will be happy to mail a free 3.5 floppy (formatted for a PC or a Mac in Word Perfect, Microsoft Word or HTML- please specify).
I do not send attachments because of the risk of a virus. I will need a “safe” address to protect your privacy: neighbor, friend, school, business, relative.
Peace.
Re: Parent Letter
Arthur:
Hmm…I’m just a parent, but the tone of your letter seems rather cold and condescending to me. Perhaps this is the impression you were trying to convey? Had I truly received a letter like this from my child’s teacher, I would have been MOST dismayed!
What tells you that a child is exhibiting “sincere cooperation”?
It seems that your letter leaves out the 10% (or more) of children who are at risk for dyslexia — since you teach reading in “one way”, that makes me pretty worried for 1 out of ten children in your class…and maybe more.
I also send you “pax”, but wonder if you are speaking more as an overloaded, burnt-out teacher than as one who is truly committed to helping his students learn. I don’t mean to send “flames”, but this is perception I had as I read your letter — I thought I’d let you know in case that was NOT the reaction you were looking for.
Surely there is a better way to elicit the cooperation and support of your student’s parents? To me, this letter sounds as if YOU have ALL the answers — yet the responsibility for reading success has been placed securely on the shoulders of the CHILDREN. I don’t think that is a recipe for success…or for great relations and support from parents and children. Just my opinion!
Best wishes,
Elizabeth
Re: Parent Letter
I totaly agree with Elizabeth. That is putting to much responsibility on the child. Especially the child who maybe dyslexic. My child put so much effort on reading the words that he totally forget what he is reading, and forget about understanding what he has just read. I am sure this is happening to lot more of our children. We all don’t learn from just one way.
Doris
Re: Parent Letter
Dear Doris and Elizabeth,
Thanks for your critiques. There could be something in my message, either factual or tone, that would make it inappropriate for a new reading teacher to use as an introduction to parents.
You both have obviously done some deep thinking about this. Perhaps one or both would be willing to compose and post a letter that would be more effective.
Thanks for your efforts.
Peace.
Re: Parent Letter
I read your letter a couple of times. Well….. It doesn’t fit my child and maybe not many of the children that their parents read this board. This is a board for children with learning disabilities, which makes it very very hard for them to learn to read. The first thing I didn’t like about the letter was that you said that the teacher wasn’t the most important factor- well I took it as saying that if your child can’t read it’s not my fault. I don’t think you meant it to sound that way but look at it from a parent who has a child struggling. Then your points 1,2 and 4- well if they were true my child would be reading fine but he is about 3 grade levels behind. Number 3 is a very good one, but can you really have the right and appropriate teaching method and tools for every child? Some children it is hard to find out what is the right method. Your letter might go over well if every child in the class had an easy time with reading.
Brenda
Re: Parent Letter
Dear Brenda,
Thank you for your critique. Perhaps you would be willing to compose and post the kind of parent letter you would like to receive from a first year LD teacher who has been assigned to teach your child.
I agree with your comment that learning to read is very hard for learning disabled students (and also hard for their parents).
Let us say there is a child (not yours) with very low intelligence. Perhaps he is retarded. Perhaps he is just very slow. His teacher, a parent, and the student are all working hard to teach him to read. But he continues to read very poorly
No one is at fault. But then, that student would not be Learning Disabled. The LD student (by Federal definition) has to have average or above average intelligence.
There are a few people who could not be taught to read a single word in a lifetime of work by the best teacher in the world with the best materials and a sound method for teaching reading. Your child is not one of these, thank God. The teacher is not the most important factor that prevents severely retarded children from learning to read.
There are also some children who insist, “I want to learn to read, but don’t ask me to sit and cooperate with your lessons, teacher. Don’t ask me to attend. Don’t ask me to practice.” Your child is not one of these, thank God. Neither the teacher nor the parent are the second most important factor that the child is not making progress in reading. A good violinist spent many agonizing hours practicing scales. Learning to read requires time and effort on the part of both the teacher and the student.
But the intelligent, cooperative child who is willing to work at learning to read needs a good teacher using good materials and a method for using them.
There are many who post on this Board who will not agree with us, Brenda. There is more than one way to skin a cat. There are many different materials and methods for teaching reader. Good teachers may teach reading in different ways, yet each produces some good readers and some who do not read well.
The Bottom Line: Can He Read? How can you be sure he is 3 years behind in reading? How was he tested? What was the Grade Scale?
You deserve praise for the effort you are making as a mother to help your child improve his reading ability.
Peace.
Re: Parent Letter
Wow Elizabeth, you need to relax!
I went back and reread the message Arthur posted. There is nothing ‘condescending’ or ‘burned out’ in its content. Sometimes, when we need a rest, we are oversensitive and even cranky. Perhaps that is what is going on here.
I haven’t read this board for some time, but I remember this tone in other responses. Could be time for you to give it a rest. Peace, out.
How would a parent get the short, specific reading vocabulary lessons if we’re in a school that doesn’t have a reading specialist?