Parent Power!
Helping You Make Sense of Schooling Today

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Published by
The Center for Education Reform
Jeanne Allen, President

To share a unique experience as a parent educating your child or comment about this newsletter, please contact Parent Power by phone or email.

Reading: Different Approaches

What is the best way to teach a child to read? Everyone has a slightly different theory, but the two major approaches in schools today-the ones your child's teacher will probably mention when you ask about reading-are whole language and phonics.

The whole language approach advocates immersing a child in the language, surrounding him with books, and letting him learn to spell and acquire vocabulary and grammar skills on his own. Phonics, on the other hand, involves explicit teaching of the letters, the sounds they make, and how to sound out words. According to reading expert, Reid Lyon, more than 65% of children need this sort of explicit phonetic instruction to become good readers.

Of course, all children are different and respond better to certain methods than others, but the research shows that successful reading programs emphasize literature while exposing the child to phonics. Whatever approach you chose for your child, it is essential that he is surrounded by books and read to often. As your child learns to read, try setting aside at least a half an hour every day to read to him and help him sound out words with you. If by seven or eight your child still has trouble reading at grade level, ask his teacher about special tutoring or an individual reading teacher. You also might want to ask about the approach being used. It may be that the books or tools being used in his classroom do not suit your child. Early intervention is the key. The earlier a child can read, the more he can learn.

Need some names of effective reading programs? Ask an educator about Success for All, SRA Reading Mastery and Balanced Literacy Program.

Is Your Child's Teacher One of the 20%
of Teachers Who Say They Feel Qualified?

That's right, only one-fifth of public school teachers say they feel qualified.

They cite working with modern technology, working with students with disabilities or with students from diverse backgrounds as their major difficulties.

Teacher quality has become a serious issue among educators lately. More career choices for teachers result in fewer prospective teachers. An overall rise in the number of students in all schools combined with a national clamor for small class size make this shortage even more serious. Many teachers now teach subjects they were never trained to teach-especially reading, math, science and English as a second language.

What can you as a parent do to make sure your child's teacher is qualified? Just ask. If you have suspicions that something is not right in the classroom, check with other parents of children in the class. Talk to your child's teacher and principal. Visit classes and take an active interest in what goes on there. Studies show that teachers who know their subject matter well are essential to a child's education. Work with your child's teacher and as much as possible, with your child at home to make sure he is learning.

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