[etni] Fw: Return to the question of reading
----- Original Message ----- From: byk - byk@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
Subject: Return to the question of reading
Perhaps I wasn't clear, when I dismissed (but not entirely), the use of songs.
I am not thinking of the higher grades - say from fifith grade. I am thnking of the absolute beginners. It is here that a garbled message is received. Look at Sandra's letter, again. I believe her son's experience is common.
Two messages are conveyed in these classes: English classes are a free-for-all, and the average kid comes out of two years of English knowing colours and animals, and for a lot of the time, has no idea what is going on. The first message continues to have fallout, right through to 12th grade.
Now I know this is not true in every class, and I am certainly not blaming the teachers for this state of things. Many of them are barely trained, and are thrown in at the deep end, with no real guidance from their text books (And no guidance or knowledge as to how to choose a text book).
Of course you may all disagree with me. And of course there are many different strategies for teaching language. But it should be obvious to all, that when we have reached 22 pupils out of a class of 35, who need to be read to, that something is wrong with the way technical readiing (decoding), is being taught. I am suggesting that much more attention should be paid to it in the early grades, when the children have the patience to practice what might later be considered boring. 

Jennifer



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