I'm relieved that the issue is getting real traction but it's depressing - it's been 25 years since I realized what the schools were not teaching and bought the BOB books and a big fat SRA kit for my kindergartner. The science wasn't new even then! If teaching was a highly paid field with competition for jobs, would it be any different? I don't know.
It's heartening to see the movement to teach actual information has also gained steam. Maybe they'll look at teaching writing next and kids will begin to benefit a few decades from now.
Funny story about content-free education: In 2002, realizing how little actual content was being taught in early grades, a few bossy moms formed the "multicultural committee" and created a unit every year on a country or continent, with every piece covertly packed with facts and information. We bought books and packaged them with content-rich activities (like big maps and stickers showing aspects of a story, to be placed on the map where it was set), music (learn a song in a different language! then learn what the words mean!) and art supplies.
One day I asked my son's first-grade teacher how the unit was going. She said, well, actually pretty well. The kids spend a lot of time at the map pointing out different places in Africa and what they know about them. They're really proud of what they know! You know, it's important to teach critical thinking and not facts at this level, but I guess it won't hurt them.......
If readers want to dive in deeper in the understanding of our current state of education, I highly recommend Sold a Story Podcast and there are several previous podcasts also available at APM Reports, The Right To Read Documentary, Blame it on Gutenberg Documentary, join the local and state discussions on FB - READ 4 NJ, READ 4 Ridgewood. Not on social media, no problem- email read4nj@keelservices.org be added to the mailing list and stay up to date with events and information locally and at the state level. READ 4 NJ will be sharing resources and information as they continue to collaborate with Legacy for Literacy Coalition, The Reading League, Decoding Dyslexia, International Dyslexia Association, JerseyCAN, and many more. Join the conversation and the change with other parents, educators, and leaders!
I'm relieved that the issue is getting real traction but it's depressing - it's been 25 years since I realized what the schools were not teaching and bought the BOB books and a big fat SRA kit for my kindergartner. The science wasn't new even then! If teaching was a highly paid field with competition for jobs, would it be any different? I don't know.
It's heartening to see the movement to teach actual information has also gained steam. Maybe they'll look at teaching writing next and kids will begin to benefit a few decades from now.
Funny story about content-free education: In 2002, realizing how little actual content was being taught in early grades, a few bossy moms formed the "multicultural committee" and created a unit every year on a country or continent, with every piece covertly packed with facts and information. We bought books and packaged them with content-rich activities (like big maps and stickers showing aspects of a story, to be placed on the map where it was set), music (learn a song in a different language! then learn what the words mean!) and art supplies.
One day I asked my son's first-grade teacher how the unit was going. She said, well, actually pretty well. The kids spend a lot of time at the map pointing out different places in Africa and what they know about them. They're really proud of what they know! You know, it's important to teach critical thinking and not facts at this level, but I guess it won't hurt them.......
Omg. That story about your son’s teacher is lol
If readers want to dive in deeper in the understanding of our current state of education, I highly recommend Sold a Story Podcast and there are several previous podcasts also available at APM Reports, The Right To Read Documentary, Blame it on Gutenberg Documentary, join the local and state discussions on FB - READ 4 NJ, READ 4 Ridgewood. Not on social media, no problem- email read4nj@keelservices.org be added to the mailing list and stay up to date with events and information locally and at the state level. READ 4 NJ will be sharing resources and information as they continue to collaborate with Legacy for Literacy Coalition, The Reading League, Decoding Dyslexia, International Dyslexia Association, JerseyCAN, and many more. Join the conversation and the change with other parents, educators, and leaders!
Thanks for your great work, Meghann, in supporting kids in our area! These are great resources for parents.