USA: 'Zuckerberg, Chan donate $30 million to literacy effort'
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:39 pm
In the Boston Globe:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/ ... nt=event25
Prevention is the first step to address low levels of literacy and this new assessment project is for screening the children - and not for screening the teaching! From what I glean about the overall picture of reading instruction in the USA, it's still inclined towards 'whole language' - more likely to be labelled 'balanced literacy' so those in the US still need to take a close look at, and make an analysis of, the TEACHING. This is what needs the greatest investment of all!
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/ ... nt=event25
I can't help think this is wonderful on the one hand, but we already know how to teach young beginners to be 'proficient readers' so, on the other hand, what are the issues?Zuckerberg, Chan donate $30 million to literacy effort
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are giving $30 million to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to tackle one of the most perplexing problems in education — low literacy rates among elementary school students — officials announced Tuesday.
A cornerstone of the five-year initiative, Reach Every Reader, will be the development of a Web-based screening tool that aims to identify kindergartners at high risk for reading difficulty. The screening tool will attempt to determine why students are struggling and will offer interventions that teachers can tap in the classrooms and families can use at home to help children become stronger readers.
The initiative also hopes to shift the conversation about poor literacy away from meager third-grade reading scores toward a focus on younger students. Officials believe early intervention can have the most profound effect on turning students into voracious, proficient readers.
Prevention is the first step to address low levels of literacy and this new assessment project is for screening the children - and not for screening the teaching! From what I glean about the overall picture of reading instruction in the USA, it's still inclined towards 'whole language' - more likely to be labelled 'balanced literacy' so those in the US still need to take a close look at, and make an analysis of, the TEACHING. This is what needs the greatest investment of all!