Food for thought

Every Child, Every Day

Above is some food for thought. #nomnom

I think it's worth reading. Allington states some simple truths and backs it up with research. Simple and free? Yes please! Below are the six elements every child should experience everyday. Want more? Take a look at the article.

1. Every child reads something he or she chooses.

2. Every child reads accurately.

3. Every child reads something he or she understands.

4. Every child writes about something personally meaningful.

5. Every child talks with peers about reading and writing.

6. Every child listens to a fluent adult read aloud.

And more food for thought (below) from Richard Allington, which I agree to a certain point below. And then that point stops and I just think "Wow. What world does he teach in?" (we don't have to do everything with worksheets and workbooks. There needs to be a balance between the ideal and reality) I don't agree with the "It's not difficult......ban test prep material" statements. Methinks he hasn't taught in the public education system for some time. #justsaying I mean, has he met ANY principals nowadays? 

"Things That Really Matter
Most of the classroom instruction we have observed lacks these six research-based elements. Yet it's not difficult to find the time and resources to implement them. Here are a few suggestions.
First, eliminate almost all worksheets and workbooks. Use the money saved to purchase books for classroom libraries; use the time saved for self-selected reading, self-selected writing, literary conversations, and read-alouds.
Second, ban test-preparation activities and materials from the school day. Although sales of test preparation materials provide almost two-thirds of the profit that testing companies earn (Glovin & Evans, 2006), there are no studies demonstrating that engaging students in test prep ever improved their reading proficiency—or even their test performance (Guthrie, 2002). As with eliminating workbook completion, eliminating test preparation provides time and money to spend on the things that really matter in developing readers.
It's time for the elements of effective instruction described here to be offered more consistently to every child, in every school, every day. Remember, adults have the power to make these decisions; kids don't. Let's decide to give them the kind of instruction they need." ~Allington