[senco-forum] Re literacy

I'm finding this 'debate' completely bizarre!

  Eddie says

  " I think we will have to agree to disagree 
about the ethics of teaching children wholly unnecessary things - it is 
certainly not good teaching practice to subject children to a great 
number of lessons on a subject for which they have no need."

  I'm sorry?  What alternative method of teaching reading are you going to use for this supposed 80%  (where DID that figure come from - have you a reference for it?) who 'don't need phonics'.  Phonics is the basis of our writing system, as previously pointed out to dolfrog; why don't children need to be taught the fundementals of their written language?  And why should the supposed 20% of children who 'need' phonics have their reading skills and self esteem badly screwed up by being taught the 'wrong' way for a year or two, before being given what they really needed?

    What about the ethics of teaching children to guess words from their shape, context, initial letters & pictures - all of which 'skills'  are totally unnecessary for successful reading ?

  Maggie

 Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 