We recently got this note from a veteran teacher who is expressing dismay over yet another round of school district quick fixes.
“Dear Tyson,
I have been swamped with common core training workshops for Math and Language Arts. The state, and every district, is trying to re-invent the wheel all over again!"
[Soapbox time. Close your eyes if you're squeamish.]
Can you sense the frustration? Hers? Mine? The answer is simply back to basics – back to decoding and learning to read before Fun with Dick and Jane and the subsequent whole word approach to reading was popularized in the 1950’s. It looks to me that Jane has been falling down ever since and now we’re racing to discover what went wrong. What went wrong is that we left something that worked for something that didn't.
It's a simple fix.
“No matter how many times they change the core, and scope,and sequence of curriculum to be taught - 'Intensive Phonics' stays true! Explicit steps are the way to teach someone to read! It is ‘Common Core’! I will always use [Discover Intensive phonics] in my classroom. Wish me luck as the pendulum continues to swing back and forth.
For me Intensive Phonics will always be the ‘common core’.”
N.A.
Nebo School District, Utah
We always have been and always will be Common Core. Check here to find phonics alignment to Common Core Standards for each state.