From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
The Press of Atlantic City headlined, in bold font, “State task force says teachers aren’t doing enough to identify kids who can’t read.” The article blamed lower grade teachers for failing to identify children with reading problems and for failing to use the right methods to teach reading. (To me, the not so subtle, unscientific subtext was to keep banging the ideological drum to purchase and use the Wilson method and its commercial materials to teach reading.) Below is the comment I submitted. Read more...
Advocacy, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, politics, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, Reading Materials, reading methods, reading problem, reading problems, reading research, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teachers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Many proponents of particular reading approaches relentlessly bash other approaches. These proponents can be anyone. They can be teachers, professors, parents, politicians, or special education advocates. Many are well intentioned, but have little or no experience teaching reading, have little or no understanding of the relevant research, or have psychologically imprisoned themselves with strong ideologies that distort their observations and thinking. Many ignore all facts and research that undermine their beliefs, stress only those that support them, and fight vigorously to prove they’re never wrong, always right; they suffer from cognitive dissonance. Sadly, the decisions they make or influence can hurt children with reading disabilities. Read more...
cognitive dissonance, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, effective teachers, intervention, language experience approach, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading methods, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teachers, whole language
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Recently, Paul Thomas of Furman University asserted, “Those who can, teach. Those who cannot pass laws about teaching.” To a large extent, he’s right. But to increase the accuracy of his statement, I revised it slightly: “Most who teach, can. Most who teach, care, understand, and passionately advocate for their students. Most who pass laws about teaching know little about teaching or education. Many who pass laws about teaching care little.” (2011) Read more...
disrespect, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Parenting, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teacher, teachers, teaching
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Florida House Approves Ending Tenure for New Teachers
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
House Republicans used their supermajority to handily approve legislation that will dramatically change the way teachers in Florida are hired, fired and rewarded.
U.S. Is Urged to Raise Teachers’ Status
By SAM DILLON
An international education study says the United States must improve the way it recruits, trains and pays teachers. Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, education politics, Florida, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, politicians, politics, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problem, reading problems, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teacher tenure, teachers, tenure
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Many politicians and parents will reject what I’m about to say, but it must be said and supported—over and over—if America’s teachers and children are to thrive in public schools. It must be followed if we are to dramatically improve the education and lives of all children—with and without disabilities:
Schools should not use children’s test scores to evaluate teachers. Instead, schools should evaluate teachers by the frequency with which they knowingly and skillfully implement scientifically-supported educational practices.
Control Read more...
evaluating teachers, Learning Disabilities, Race to The Top, Reading Disabilities, Special Education, teachers, value added, value added test scores, value-added assessment
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
No matter what laws, court rulings, or research studies say, inclusion is in danger of collapsing or becoming a hollow, ineffective, and perhaps harmful option for placing and educating children with disabilities. This is due, in part, to budget cuts and the corrosive effects of public policy on teachers.
First, we’ll list some of the more critical factors needed for inclusion to work. Then we’ll discuss how public policy is undermining them. Finally, we’ll suggest what you can do to support meaningful inclusion. Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, IDEA, IDEIA, inclusion, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, least restrictive environment, mainstreaming, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teacher, teachers
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
Parents often ask, “Is my child’s teacher competent?” Unfortunately, science has yet to produce an errorless formula for answering this question. And it’s an important one that test scores and the new rage, “value added equations,” can’t answer.
Fortunately, there are legitimate ways to begin assessing the competence of your child’s teacher. One way is to observe how she presents lessons to your child’s class. This can tell you a lot, but not everything, about the quality of her instruction. Read more...
disabilities, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, evaluating teachers, frustration, frustration level, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Mastropieri, observation, observations, Parenting, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading levels, Reading Materials, reading problem, reading problems, remediation, Scruggs, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, systematic instruction, teacher, teacher observation, teacher observations, teachers
