Posted Bybarbara rouse on September 24, 1999 at 22:58:40:
I live in Georgia and unfortunately many of our school (10-15) in our county of about 32 elementary schools are using a reading program called "Reading First" which includes a heavy phonics component. I am so appalled at the return to this old way of teaching. There are kindergarten classes in our area that are actually changing classes and do not have time for learning centers because of the demands of this "program". What happened to developmentally appropriate practices? The approach I use was taught to me by Darla Wood-Walters out of Oregon who worked under a master teacher in New Zealand and the results are phenomenal. I do not think i could teach in a school that made me implement such an inappropriate program for children. Anyone else seeing these trends in their county?