The Science of Reading, Same Old One Size Fits All Song

 

The titans of industry are making the rounds again, giving out campaign contributions and selling the same old "one size fits all" notions to schools, teachers, and parents. Armed with test score data, and selling the sky is falling. Smaller class sizes, no no, more Literacy specialists, no no, more Special education teachers, no no, maybe more tutors, no no, everything you need comes in a box with a special price just for your school. “See the world through the eyes of your inner child. The eyes that sparkle in awe and amazement as they see love, magic, and mystery in the most ordinary things.” -Henna Sohail

If you find yourself believing the hype of these Ed Reformers and policymakers selling high-stakes testing, saying the test is the curriculum, claiming their data reveals all? If they start talking about "The Science of Reading," know this, they have no magic; they can and will bore children. Leave our teachers wondering why their science assembly line keeps breaking down. They have been doing it for decades. WALK AWAY!

They are clueless data junkies, chasing all the wrong numbers, and they are the ones far from our classrooms.

See every lesson through the eyes of children,

Dr. Jesse P. Turner

CCSU Literacy Center Director If you like to listen to the song that inspired my walk in the snow today? It is Natalie Merchant's Wonder > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zpYFAzhAZY <

"People see me I'm a challenge to your balance,

I'm over your heads, how I confound you,

And astound you,

To know, I must be one of the seven wonders,

God's own creation,

And as far as they see,
They can offer

Me no explanation,
Ooo, I believe, fate smiled"

Finding the magic means finding the right books. 

There ain't no high-stakes test gonna keep me in my grave

 

What my Hero Teachers in my life taught the teacher in me?

There was no:

Curriculum,

Standards, or

Standardized test,

That could prevent them,

From teaching us what really mattered to us.

My Hero Teachers came in all colors, all faiths, some American born, and some came from afar,

They were, Culturally Relevant,

Before it, became the professional thing to do.

Yes, I know what is in the:

Curriculum,

Standards, and

On those high-stakes tests,

But, more importantly,

I know that no power on earth,

Can keep me, or those I teach out.

My Hero Teachers were bigger than data walls,

My Hero Teachers were bigger than any standards,

My Hero Teachers were bigger than any approved curriculum,

My Hero Teachers were bigger than the test scores.

My Hero Teacher fortified me with a legacy of:

Humanity,

Truth,

Honor,

Dignity, and

Hope, and

They were beautiful, opinionated, and powerful. But, she was the fire burning, Here is to our fire burning, Mrs. Stanfield. We sat at lunch, talking Baldwin, Gather on the practice field hearing Garvey, Hanging on the corner, critically discussing Beawolf, In the park, we wanna be gang bangers, citing Sheamus Heaney, At 5:00 in the afternoon when Ignacio Sanchez Mejias fell in the bull ring, We lamented with Federico Lorca Garcia Diablo Poetics,
We walked with Maya's I know why the caged bird sings. We owe it all to her, Mrs. Stanfield knew there were bigger lessons that her girls and boys needed learning, Hail to every hero teacher, who saw us, not some distance curriculum. I walk in the footsteps of Hero Teachers bigger than me,

Dr. Jesse P. Turner

CCSU Literacy Center Director

If you like to listen to the song that inspired my walk this morning, its Jamie Wilson's cover of "Ain't No Graver" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU9BObi1GVw
Need some fire? Places to go, and people to hear, and lessons to learn, tomorrow it's all Radical Love in the time of pandemic: Imagination and hope in Public Education. Come learn with us > https://shoutout.wix.com/so/26NRoMEhG?languageTag=en&fbclid=IwAR3_NQpaYAWp9QX_enklDYSZ2RZtoYHPvP-B07Ym2_82kHIJKw-rl66IZkU#/main <

 

Mr. President, this is what dignity looks like

 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: ""Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."

To the rioters and haters who assaulted our nation's capital 3 days ago. I know something about Marches on Washinton.

This is what dignity looks like,

This is what a respectful march on our Nation's Capital looks like,

This is what Civil Disobedience in action looks like,

This how hope lifts democracy.

My Grandfather was 68 in 63,

At 68, he took his namesake 8-year-old grandson to this;

Dignified,

Respectful,

Hopeful,

Uplighting

March.

I am the grandson whose World War 1 Veteran Grandfather made sure his grandson would walk in the light of creative altruism. I went up to the mountain, Because you asked me,

Dr. Jesse P. Turner

Uniting to Save Our Schools National Committee If you are wondering what song I am listening to today? It is Patty Griffin singing " I went up to the mountain" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA6Q5-Ap3o8&ab_channel=gcbfolk