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Florida Writes Style

Prompt: How would you change Alabama public education?

As a parent and former teacher I feel like there are a hundred things I could change about Alabama public schools.  If I could change just three things about public education in Alabama they would be less emphasis on Accelerated Reader,  an emphasis on writing and I would change how parent and teachers communicate.  I feel by changing these three areas that public eduction would see an improvement in learning.  Let me share with you my ideas.  

First I would change the way Accelerated Reader is used in the school.  I am not against the program.  I think that is is being used wrong.  The only thing the kids are getting from Accelerated Reading right now is how to annihilate the love of reading.  I feel like it should be used to reward instead of demanding the reading to be done and point to be met for a grade.  

The second thing I would change is writing instruction.  This is why I chose the Florida Writes style of writing today. Alabama needs Alabama Writes.  I am saying this as a former Florida fourth grade teacher that loathed at times the emphasis on writing.  I now see the importance.  I am at the other end of the spectrum and crave for my child to learn to write.  As a parent that would like to see just one well formed paragraph.  It seem that if the state doesn't demand writing it doesn't get taught.  

Lastly, I would love better parent/teacher communication.  Many times I feel like I find out things on the cuff.  I find out because I asked or I happened to be at the school at the right time.  I sometimes find out things the day it is happening.  Sadly some days I find out after the fact.  I know that this is easier said than done because I have been on both sides of this coin.  If I went back to teaching I would do a much better job at communicating classroom goals to the parents.  Our school has a website that has not been updated in years.  I think it should be updated weekly or monthly.  It is an awesome tool for communication that is not being utilized.  

I feel like at times I am at a advantage because of my teaching background.  At least I know what questions to ask. I feel like I crave these changes because I know they are missing.  For today I would change the way Accelerated Reading is used in the classroom, put an emphasis on writing and improve parent and teacher communication.  

Comments

Melody said…
I was just discussing the use/misuse of AR in TN with a few teachers and the librarian (who plays a major role in its implementation at our school.) We all agreed that it takes the joy out of reading. One student asked why would she want to read anything that she couldn't take an AR test on, and another was surprised to learn that she 'could read the books without the dots.'
Love the five paragraph essay! I remember teaching this during my practicum in fourth grade.
December 1, 2010 at 8:32 PM
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