Responding to a message by Erica, to Charles on ...
EL> Hi Charles. 
Hi, Erica.
EL>I found I was tired when I read your last post as you seem to be arguing
EL>for the sake of it.
And I can understand your view.  I am repeating myself horribly.  I 
hate to turn away from Dan's posts, but he is not convincing me of 
very much and he won't until I can pick up a major educational 
publication and read of scientifically conducted studies that prove 
that whole language instructs better than the traditional.  I am a 
skeptic through and through.
Laying that aside, I have responded to only a few of Dan's messages 
this time around and will probably respond to even fewer next time, 
unless we can take off in a new direction.
EL>I have better things to do.
This *is* a written message and not difficult to skip over.  I won't 
apologize - if you're reading it, you must have wanted to be there.
EL>You never did reply to my comments about children who can't remember the
EL>names of the letters let alone the sound they make most often.
Either I didn't see it or I didn't have anything relevant to say.  I 
don't recall seeing it.
EL>How can one teach a mainly phonic method when a child has not
EL>experienced enough language when they come to school and can't 
EL>even tell you the names of the letters in their name?
Isn't that the job of the kindergarten teacher?  I always thought it 
was - to teach the letters and their sounds.  Perhaps times have changed.
EL>Of course not but then your only reply to my comment about the 
EL>diversity of ability even at 5 was the teaching methods were at fault.
I apologize.  I recognize there are differences in abilities, but 
believe it is the job of the school system to begin leveling that 
playing field.  If there needs to be additional intervention in the 
form of summer school, Reading Recovery (maybe in 1st grade instead 
of Kindergarten), tutoring, etc., then it should be provided.  By 
3rd grade, we could have every child reading on grade level if our 
communities were willing to invest in it.
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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* UniQWK #5290* Ignorance is a curable condition.  Stupidity is forever.
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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