Phonics Plus Five Blog

A Major--and Courageoous-"About-Face"

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:46:25 +0000

This week, in the Wall Street Journal, Diane Ravitch, a leading educational figure, has produced an seminal article titled Why I Changed My Mind About School Reform. In a total reversal of her long advocacy for ideas such as school choice, accountability, “No child left behind” (NCLB) and charter schools, she makes the statement
“…deregulation and privately managed charter schools” are “not the answer to the deep-seated problems of American education. If anything, they represent tinkering around the edges of the system. They affect the lives of tiny numbers of students but do nothing to improve the system that enrolls the other 97%. “

Fact from Fiction: A Critical Distinction

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:06:16 +0000

There is a basic distinction in writing that, in most curricula, receives far less attention than it deserves. It is the distinction between narrative (i.e., fiction) and expository (i.e., information) text. From grade one on, when reading is assigned, it is typically narrative material. Even in high school, the emphasis on this type of text continues. Almost all of the required books entail fiction.

Seeing Spelling: The Route to Reading

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:00:11 +0000

I often receive requests from parents about ways to improve their children's spelling. The following is typical of the kinds of concerns that are expressed.

Dr. Blank, My son struggles with reading, but far more with spelling. At the beginning of second grade, his reading is at the 1.5 grade level but his spelling is at the 1.1 grade level. What is the best way to improve his spelling?

The good news is that lots can be done. The less-than-good news is that the practices we need to use are unfamiliar. So it means getting used to some new ideas.

Academic Achievement: It Really Matters

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:17:39 +0000

A new international study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found that a rise in test scores, even a relatively modest rise, has important consequences for the economy. Were a rise in student achievement to occur, the analysis projects that the nation could see growth of nearly $41 trillion in its GDP.

Amazing and Beautiful Art

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:15:07 +0000

When you click on the link below, you will be treated to something quite extraordinary. It shows the winner of Ukrainian talent contest. She is Kseniya Simonova, 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II.

The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths of a population of 42 million.

Kseniya Simonova says:
"I find it difficult enough to create art using paper and pencils or paint brushes, but using sand and fingers is (not) beyond me. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears. And there's surely no bigger compliment."

And now, sit back and relax
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vOhf3OvRXKg

Happy New Year to All

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:20:06 +0000

People frequently, and rightly, comment on the many nationalities that make up the American citizenry. So in case you might want to convey New Year's greetings to some of your neighbors using their native tongue, here are some possibilities.

Afgani Saale Nao Mubbarak
Afrikaans Gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian Gezuar Vitin e Ri
Armenian Snorhavor Nor Tari
Arabic Kul 'am wa antum bikhair
Assyrian Sheta Brikhta
Azeri Yeni Iliniz Mubarek!

A Critical but Neglected Area: Foreign Language Teaching

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:23:15 +0000

We are extremely fortunate with our language. Going against all predictions, English has become the leading language of international discourse. That allows us to use English in almost any country where we travel.

Unfortunately, as often happens with too much of a good thing, it has allowed us to be less than diligent about mastering other languages. Nancy C. Rhodes and Ingrid Pufahl of the Center for Applied Linguistics recently conducted a survey entitled "Foreign Language Teaching in U.S. Schools." It has a clear message.

Christmas Greetings from Around the World

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:15:54 +0000

Merry Christmas and the Heartiest of Good Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday.

If you would like to offer Christmas Greetings in a different language, here are some possibilities. (And if you would like to take it further, locating the countries on the globe could be a fabulous lesson in geography.)

Afrikaans: Gesëende Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian: Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun

America's Best High Schools

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:17:50 +0000

For the third year in a row, U.S. News has ranked America's Best High Schools. Based on student scores on statewide tests, Advanced Placement tests, and International Baccalaureate tests, the rankings involve a three-step process that analyzes how schools are educating (1) all of their students, (2) their minority and disadvantaged students, and (3) their college bound students

And the winner is ---Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia with a course load that includes DNA science, neurology, and quantum physics. But that is not all.

Words of Wisdom --From the Young

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:12:17 +0000

As the old saying "out of the mouths of babes" tells us, children can offer some amazing insights into some quite complicated issues. Recently, a slew of examples was made available to us when some professionals asked a group of four to eight year olds, "'What does love mean?'

Here are some of the responses
'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7

Ever Wonder Where Certain Words Come From?

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:38:58 +0000

Psychology and linguistics have long been intrigued with finding out how words came into being. Among the many speculations, scientists entertain ideas to how sign language might have morphed into spoken language; how grunts and other vocalizations gradually changed into speech--and on and on. So far, the question remains unanswered.

But when we lower our sights to individual words, we have much better luck. And the search can be fun and fascinating--as you will find if you look at a book by John Bemelmans Marciano titled Anonyponymous: The Forgotten People Behind Everyday Words. (Anonyponomy, by the way, is a person who is almost anonymous despite the eponymous use of his name in everyday language).

For example, let's consider the word "sandwich" which was created in honor of the fourth Earl of Sandwich who liked to snack—with a slab of salt beef stuffed between two pieces of toast.

High School Research Papers: A Dying Breed

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:50:39 +0000

In a new book titled Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell, the sociologist and popular writer, claims that the best way to achieve expertise is to spend 10,000 hours honing your skills. The idea is not new. It has been captured for ages in the old proverb of "practice makes perfect."

Unfortunately, in American education, the move seems to be in the opposite direction. Writing is one of the most important skills that schools can teach. Yet, high schools are going to shorter and shorter assignments, often to the point of requiring no papers at all.

Ensuring Our Children's Health: It Can Be Done

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:12:43 +0000

Deborah Szekely is an outstanding woman, long recognized as a, if not the, founder of the modern health and fitness movement. She has served on health and fitness councils under a variety of presidents. Recently she teamed up with Dr. David Kessler, author of The End of Overeating, to write about health care reform. Their ideas --if put into action, will --at little cost--do more for health care than all the versions of the bills now being debated in Congress.

They start from the premise that we'll never control health care costs until we halt the nationwide epidemic of overeating, lack of exercise, and obesity. Currently, among America's children -- nearly one in three youngsters, from age 2 to 19, is overweight, and approximately 17% are dangerously obese.

But that does not mean that things cannot change. And, interestingly, they see children as the ones who can lead the way.

Exercising While Sitting--A Splendid Idea

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:23:49 +0000

If you are familiar with Pilates, yoga and exercise classes, then you are familiar with inflatable balls that let you sit and bounce up and down. Some teachers say they belong in school classrooms too because they sharpen students' attention and improve their posture.

And that's what has been happening in some schools around the nation. One teacher in Chicago checked the Internet for ways to help her restless pupils sit still.

Schools That Are Becoming Flexible About Sleep

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:51:41 +0000

In our fast paced society, sleep deprivation among school age children, particularly adolescents, is a well-known phenomenon. Now a school in Tyneside England has set the schedule so that the school day starts later--at 10AM to be precise. The school has launched a five-month experiment that has the backing of pupils, teachers and parents.