In a September 8, 2021 opinion post, Education Week described two educators’ concerns over the polarization of literary instruction and the distortion of the term “balanced literacy” from its original meaning.[1] To address the former, we have to look no farther than the hotly debated “war” between phonics and whole-word instruction, which we dealt with … Continue reading “Balancing Literacy: What Makes for Good Reading Instruction?”
Tag: engagement
Guest Blog: The Unexpected Benefits of Virtual Learning, and How to Make the Most of Them
[Editor’s note: Today’s blog was written by Jane Miller, a freelance writer, part-time high school English teacher, and a graduate student based in Seattle, Washington.] In the roughly six months since the coronavirus pandemic struck the U.S. in earnest, virtual learning has developed something of a mixed reputation. In those six months, students of all … Continue reading “Guest Blog: The Unexpected Benefits of Virtual Learning, and How to Make the Most of Them”
Parrots Can Speak, but Can They Read?
Jennifer Cuhna is a lawyer with a bachelor’s degree in psychology; she also served as a research assistant at the University of Florida in a behavioral neuroscience laboratory and spent many years teaching inner-city kids how to read. Those experiences gave her both the inquisitiveness and the expertise to work on a rather unconventional study … Continue reading “Parrots Can Speak, but Can They Read?”
Poverty and the Educational Process – Part 1: Health and Nutrition
[Editor’s note: This is part one of a four-part series on poverty and the educational process. Links to the previous blog posts will be included in each succeeding part.] In 2015, approximately about 20 percent of children under the age of 18 (about 14.7 million) came from families living in poverty, and 10 percent lived … Continue reading “Poverty and the Educational Process – Part 1: Health and Nutrition”