Collaborative+group+16!

Hi everyone, Was just looking through our last assesment and thought that maybe we could get a start on thinking about what our unit could be about. I had a thought that maybe we could do it on writing stories as we could incorporate all of the Eglish strands into the curriculum as well as include the students sharing their introductions etc, with the class so including speaking and listening, reading (to proof read it) and we could break up the lessons into different areas of the writing process -intro, conclusion, main body(problem) and then a solution. We could use resources such as the visual text with using pictures of facial expressions to help students write aobut what it looks like they are feeling etc so that it can be an introduction or tuning in activity to help them 'show not tell' in their writing piece. What do you guys think? If we could all start having a think about what we are going to do so that we can alll individually start thinking about how to go about taking the next step, that would be awesome. Let me know your feedback or any other ideas that you may be thinking aobut and I will also post this on the wiki pages as well then we will need to decide what we want to start using to have our discussions etc. Cheers, Kerryn

Here is mine a bit late, sorry. From here we have to collate our thoughts and words collectively! Cheryl

Statement 1. **Justify the school’s stance on Literacy** At our school we believe that the Whole language Framework for literacy will develop your child’s ability to make a deeper meaning and understanding from their reading. They will developer a love of literature and feel successful when they write each day. Their writing will be completed in many forms such as a letter to a friend, a review from their own reading, diary entry and this will be shared and edited by a fellow student or themselves to promote spelling skills and higher level thinking. We want your child to develop life long love of reading. We encourage your child to make their own choice about what they read so they feel motivated to learn and make connections and meaning from their reading. Kohn ( 2000) describes Whole Language as a solution to our low literacy scores. In fact we continue down this path we will have children who can’t decode, believe they are the best to decide which spelling strategies to use, books to read and whether to focus on spelling in their writing samples. The children will be ill equipped to face University with a tool box full of spelling rules for an academic level and will only want to read texts or stories which they make meaning from or connections to. A one-size fits all approach to Literacy is an ignorant stance to take and we will surely fail our children if we head down this path. However if we employ an eclectic approach with a ‘balance of theorists such as The Four Resources, Phonics and Whole Language this would cater for diversity in our global classrooms and prepare our children adequately for life beyond the primary and secondary walls.
 * Statement 2. Disagree with Kohn’s stance on Whole Language as a media presenter.**

Hi again guys! Do we need to summarise this now and post it into the discussion board? Have found this a little confusing, but now am hopefully on track! !  Hi Guys, sorry it's late this is mine. Jacqui AGAINST “We’d do a lot better if we brought back good old-fashioned phonics!” (Kohn, 2000, p159) and how true, teaching children phonics is the only way the children are able to grasp an understanding of how the English language works. Teaching this fundamental skill explicitly allows children to have a firm grasp on letter sounds and blends, that may not be picked up in the whole language fad that is entering schools. The whole language approach encourages students to pick out their own readers/books without taking into consideration the negative effects this could have on young learners. Students may choose books way above their reading level making them feel ‘dumb’ or inadequate as they are unable to pronounce the words. FOR “We’d do better if we brought back good old fashioned phonics!” (Kohn, 2000,p.159). This statement clearly shows how times have changed, and teaching literacy is no longer just about teaching students how to decode text, but also about learning to read so that it has meaning (Kohn, 2000). Rather then sticking with traditional methods of completing worksheets, whole language teachers think of a number of ways to help students make sense and engage with what they are reading, essentially they “learn to read by reading” and not doing drills (Kohn,2000, p.161). HI guys, I am in 99.9 % sure I am in group 16, can we confirm if we are using a Wiki or google docs... Cheryl

Group discussion on Kohn's reading.

(Kerryn) Hi Group 10, Sorry I'm so late in adding my comment, but I am having serious internet problems which will be fixed by the end of this week! I have put my reply on the discussion board about our readings of Kohns whole language approach (for and against) didn't know that I was meant to be putting it here and it has taken me some time to work out how to do this, but l think i have finally worked it out after pasting this comment several times over!! LOL!!! I have copied and pasted my response below! Sorry again for htis Statement for Whole language approach:

Giving students the right to shape their own learning, not only empowers them to learn but also creates a determination and self disciplined drive to purposely learn. Taking responsibility helps students in the classroom and also helps them to independently problem solvers and therefore effective members of our community. Having the whole language approach allows students to become excited in their learning and have a greater understanding of the English language, absorbing information and finding answers for themselves. they have a purpose for writing and a thirst for reaading!

Statement against-

Children need direction in their learning. Give a child an inch and he will take a mile! These children will overrule our classrooms, not learn what is needed of them and won't be able to spell, read or write. How will this make effective members of our community! Children need the basics to help them learn spelling, reading and writing strategies and make links with their learning. Students need an adult figure to guide them in their learning and tell them what they need to know!

(Alicia) Just checking that I am in the right group.........,Group 16?? Kerryn, Jacqui and Cheryl. Here's hoping !

(Alicia) Agree with Kohn: The whole language approach allows students to socially interact through reading and writing. It encourages students to be independent and active learners. Whole language learning focuses on the importance of understanding and creating meaning from texts. It also allows teachers to use a range of strategies for students to make sense of what is on the page. Kohn believes the whole language approach can assist in students seeing themselves as a part of a community of readers and writers. Disagree with Kohn: Students can have difficulty creating meaning from texts if they do not know or have not learnt the correct decoding skills. The use of phonics is a direct instruction approach which can be successful for children as they learn the relationship between symbols and sounds helping them understand common letter sounds which can assist with widening their vocabulary. Learning phonics is about learning the skills which will then help to understand and create meaning from a text.