The textbooks and the workbooks and the teachers manuals and all the other materials were displayed attractively. There were mini-candy bars and cloth shopping bags for visitors to take.
America’s biggest text book companies – Pearson, McGraw-Hill and Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt – each had large, handsome displays.
For three days last week, the third-floor library of the Juneau High School building was the center of looming big change in the way children in Milwaukee Public Schools are taught reading. MPS officials are selecting a new reading program.
A special committee will make a recommendation and the School Board will make the choice in the winner-takes-all curriculum selection process. The sunlit scene in the Juneau library was the part of the process where anyone could take a look and give input.
It was an amiable scene. The representatives of the publishers were friendly, talkative, knowledgeable, and quite willing to schmooze. “Great tie,” one told me as I walked down the aisle. She appeared to know something about this tie that no one else had noticed in the 20 years I’ve owned it.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Psychology Professor Mark Seidenberg has written a number of articles on Madison’s reading programs.
It was 5 or so years ago that I had correspondence with one of the heads of the Milwaukee reading task force. The big news was that they were going to adopt a district wide Balanced Literacy Reading approach (nice sounding words which actually mean constructivist pish posh) I told him we should talk in 5 years when it turns out not to work.
Found this saved in an old folder. Lifted from a now defunct MPS url.
“Beginning in Fall 2002, the Balanced Literacy Framework will be implemented throughout Milwaukee Public Schools. Balanced Literacy Framework is a comprehensive literacy program providing balanced skills development within literature-rich activities including reading, writing, listening, speaking, deep thinking, and researching skills.
Teachers and literacy coaches will work to get all students at or above grade level in reading, writing, and mathematics by using the following methods:”
Word and Vocabulary Study
Reading Aloud
Shared and Collaborative Reading
Guided Reading
Independent Reading
Shared Writing
Interactive Writing
Guided Writing and Writing Workshops
Independent Writing
For more information, please call (414) 475-8143
The Milwaukee Public Schools
Department of Educational Services
5225 W. Vliet Street
Milwaukee, WI 53208
Deep Knowledge about Teaching and Learning
Sharing in Student Success: Milwaukee Partnership Academy
Greenfield Elementary School, a Pioneer in the Balanced Literacy Framework
Sorry folks, but this really got me going. Add up what Enron, the Exxon Valdez, Goldman Sachs et. al. did and it pales in comparison to the social, economic and moral crimes committed here. Plenty of evidence existed to stop the unproven reading programs adopted by MPS years ago. Since then, millions were made by curriculum directors, administrators, teachers (many unwilling), and edu-hacks selling balanced literacy. To wit: Irene Fountas, Pinnell, and their gang of sycophantic followers. They are a disgrace. All of them.
Enron execs go to jail. Exxon pays billions in fines. Wall Street hucksters grilled before Congress. Yet, what we have here is ignored and the very same people are allowed to suggest the next 8-10 year failure.
Tens of thousands of children have had a good education taken from them because some progressive constructivist nitwit thought it would be cool to try this on them. Good thing I am not judge, jury, and….