Why Blog


I’m passionate about finding ways to simplify comprehension instruction and learning. I’m concerned that we are defining comprehension too narrowly as an accumulation of five or six meta-cognitive strategies when cultivating comprehension involves so much more than that. We need to help children acquire accurate fluent reading skills and strategies; build background knowledge; develop their oral language and vocabulary; make reading-writing connections, and acquire a repertoire of meta-cognitive strategies to use as and if needed.


So I invite you to join me in blogging about this ever-so-important topic. I look forward to hearing your ideas, teaching strategies, book recommendations, classroom stories, etc., basically anything that will inspire a healthy conversation among colleagues.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Matt Damon Speaks Out for Teachers


Here's an article/video that was sent to me last night by a parent of two delightful and former students—Gillian and Michael. In Laura’s own words about actor and activist Matt Damon’s speech this weekend at a Save Our Schools DC rally: “It’s so nice to know that someone with a high profile ‘gets it’.” Now if only we could convince our president and other policy makers that excessive testing is doing our students and our profession a huge disservice. Enjoy.
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11 comments:

  1. ShannonAugust 3, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    I had already posted this on my blog the other day and was so pleased that someone "famous" stood up for us as publicly as he did. This would be a good video to show at our district's inservice (you know, for the administrators). :)

    It's also amazing just how fast things spread with our availability of social media-I have also seen it posted on facebook by noneducators. Hooray!

    Shannon
    http://6thgradescottforesmanreadingstreetresources.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sharon TaberskiAugust 3, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    it's good to know that GOOD news also travels fast!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Clutter-Free ClassroomAugust 22, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    Hi Sharon,
    I just found your blog tonight and am so excited to read through it. On Solid Ground is one of the books I've reread several times and use so many elements of it in my classroom. I had the opportunity to attend one of your conferences in Nashua, NH many years ago, You've played a role in making me the teacher I am today. :) Thanks for your work.


    ❤Jodi from...
    ★★The Clutter-Free Classroom★★
    Helping Teachers Get Organized

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dr Gary WoolleyAugust 28, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    I listened to Matt Damon and thought that it was a breath of fresh air. We have the same problems in Australia and our teacher need to also hear this.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sharon TaberskiAugust 29, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    hi jodi--thanks for your kind words.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousOctober 19, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    I could not agree more with what Matt Damon conveyed in hyis speech. All test do is allocate funds to the schools that are failing. Those funds are not audited to ensure that areas of failure are remediated against through the increased revenue stream.

    Watch "Waiting for Superman". It's an eye opening account of the failures within our school system. We, the parents, may not execute the mandates that are passed down as bills and legislative requirements. Don't be so quick to look away from what lies right in front of us...WE VOTE THE PEOPLE INTO OFFICE AND PAY THEM A HANDSOME SALARY THROUGH TAX DOLLARS WHILE THEY ROB OUR CHILDREN OF AN THE VERY RIGHT MARTIN LUTHER KING PROFESSED... that each child has a right to education. We too have failed our children by continuing to vote either the wrong people into office or by rewarding politicians for a lack of integrity that, had we delivered under such terms we'd have been fired within 90 days.

    To bad government doesn't fall under 'at will' clauses.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousOctober 19, 2011 at 7:56 PM

    Forgive the poor spelling "to" instead of "too". Down with pneumonia but couldn't resist responding to this important issue.

    ReplyDelete
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