tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673598978629390697.post8368489875861401381..comments2024-03-28T20:36:01.373+11:00Comments on The Snow Report: Why is a Phonics Check a good idea in Australia?Pamela Snow | The Snow Reporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17754222675609183221noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673598978629390697.post-29776456955627841342016-12-15T07:37:17.319+11:002016-12-15T07:37:17.319+11:00Thanks for your comments Susan. Sadly, I think you...Thanks for your comments Susan. Sadly, I think you are correct in your summation that that the needs of those children who don't thrive in a Balanced Literacy environment are not being met. I don't believe this is a funding issue - it's a knowledge translation problem.Pamela Snow | The Snow Reporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17754222675609183221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673598978629390697.post-147523571702548482016-12-12T23:03:01.519+11:002016-12-12T23:03:01.519+11:00If Misty was a doctor she would run the risk of be...If Misty was a doctor she would run the risk of being struck off. Her persistent and perilous promtion of a pedagogy producing parlous at best and appalling at worst results sums up all that is wrong with our so called leaders in literacy education. The stranglehold she shares with the bulk of university literacy experts is realised in a two tiered result with the top tier being a very literate cohort rewarding the pedagogy with their competence and achievements. Meanwhile there is growing bulge in the tail of the data made up of students who will struggle to participate meaningfully in society as they are casualties of the instructional method. This situation is now at breaking point as the economy slows and is facing its own transformation, but as a nation we have insufficient students ready to meet the demands of economic transformation The cost of our collective denial with respect to introducing an early phonics check will be a broadening economic malaise.Read2Writehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10705203782900410391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673598978629390697.post-86574740419948852512016-11-28T22:59:36.860+11:002016-11-28T22:59:36.860+11:00You've nailed it as always Dick. I particularl...You've nailed it as always Dick. I particularly like your Snellen analogy - it is after all, just a screen, not a diagnostic test.<br />Many thanks once again for taking the time to add your valued comments. <br />cheers<br />PamPamela Snow | The Snow Reporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17754222675609183221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673598978629390697.post-90665893647322424982016-11-28T10:12:08.017+11:002016-11-28T10:12:08.017+11:00Why is it then that children’s educational wellbei...<b>Why is it then that children’s educational wellbeing is not placed above the taboo of talking about uneven quality in teacher education and practice?</b><br /><br />That's a very good question! Four reasons come to mind:<br /><br />One. The "evidence", the research literature" is such that one can find published "research" (in refereed journals to support almost any statement about schooling that anyone cares to make.<br /><br />Two. All instructional failures are attributed to the students, their parents, or to "society" rather than to the instruction that was provided.<br /><br />Three. The teacher, rather than the tools and protocols the teacher uses, is viewed as "the" important factor in instruction--"a good teacher can make any programme work." This places an impossible burden on teachers and lets authorities and officials off the hook.<br /><br />Four. Our standard indicators of instructional accomplishments are ungrounded relative comparisons. The "diagnostic" information they yield provides no diagnostic information.<br /><br />I join you in believing that an Alphabetic Code [Phonics] Check is a good idea. The Check is akin to the Snellen Visual Accuity Chart used in driver licensing. That is, it's a valid and reliable standard for determining "what you can read" in the same way the Snellen Chart tells "What you can see.<br /><br />Further, the Check provides a dependent variable for Natural Experiments that can sort out the variability in "reading achievement" now seen among classes, schools, local authorities, and even nations.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dick Schutzhttps://ssrn.com/author=1199505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673598978629390697.post-86236445204292866862016-11-27T22:54:18.407+11:002016-11-27T22:54:18.407+11:00Thanks Shaz. let me know if you have a response. Thanks Shaz. let me know if you have a response. Pamela Snow | The Snow Reporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17754222675609183221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673598978629390697.post-71542075257175628992016-11-27T21:30:51.819+11:002016-11-27T21:30:51.819+11:00Spot on Pamela. I've shared it with Minister o...Spot on Pamela. I've shared it with Minister of Ed in SA.<br />Shazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17168156911441369255noreply@blogger.com