THE DAILY GLOBE, Ironwood, MI pinion Monday, May 15, 1995 Page 6 curriculum stresses early reading By JUDY DAUBENMIER Associated Press Writer HILLSDALE, Mich. (AP) When Pat Ransford announced it was time for writing workshop, her first graders at Bailey Elementary School scattered to their favorite places in the room. Some sprawled on the floor. Others huddled under a table. One sat in front of the aquarium.
Their pencils scratched across blank sheets of paper creating short stories they would soon read aloud to the class, as writing class blurred into reading class. On the floor, Jeffrey Maxfield busily crafted a tale about a tree lookout he and his father "bilt." "It's fun," he said about his class's daily writing time. "You get to tell people about your life. Sometimes it is (hard to think of a topic) but not usually because I have done a lot of things in my life and it just makes it a lot easier." Ransford's writing workshop is a prototype of what language arts classes in Michigan public schools would be like if a proposed core curriculum is adopted by the State Board of Education. Schools in Southfield, Waterford, Monroe, Marquette and some in Detroit also are demonstrating the proposed outline of what students should learn in language arts.
Conservatives have blasted the proposed curriculum. They complain it shortchanges the basics and classical works. They hope to repeal a 1993 law mandating a core curriculum in eight academic areas. Almanac, Datebook May 15, 1995 Today is the 135th day of 1995 and the 57th day of spring. TODAY'S HISTORY: On this day in 1885, Canada's Metis Rebellion was snuffed out when Louis Riel surrendered.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Alighieri Dante (1265-1321), poet; L. Frank Baum (1856-1919), writer; Pierre Curie (1859- 1906), chemist; Katherine Anne Porter (1890-1980), writer; Richard J. Daley (1902-1976), mayor; Eddy Arnold singer, is 77; Jasper Johns artist, is 65; Paul Zindel (1936-), writer, is 59; Brian Eno (1948-), musician, is 47; George Brett (1953-), baseball great, is 42; Lee Horsley (1955-), actor, is 40. TODAY'S SPORTS: On this day in 1988, golfer Nancy Lopez won the Chrysler- Plymouth Classic by eight strokes, the largest margin of victory in an LPGA event in five years. But in Hillsdale Community Schools, Superintendent Richard Lane said there has been no groundswell of opposition over the five years the district has been revamping its language arts instruction.
The school has made some adjustments. It will add electives on British and American literature at the high school next year, for example. "Most people have been real pleased. The amount of reading and writing that goes on when you have an integrated approach really increases," Lane said. A parent with three children at Gier Elementary School said there are things she might criticize about Hillsdale schools, but the language arts program is not among them.
"I think they're spelling correctly a little bit later than I'd like, but as a whole, I love the writing workshop and the fact that they're writing so young and are so proud of their accomplishments," said Sue Reed. "They don't fear. They're much more eager to pick up the written page." Reed said her three children all keep diaries and The district's scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program reading tests show mixed results. The share of those earning satisfactory scores. on reading dropped between 1989 and 1994 in elementary and middle school, but jumped i in high school.
There is no MEAP writing test. But Ransford said other measures show children are learning to love to read and write. TAERES A REPORT THAT SAYS THE RICHEST OWN VERY NEARLY BUSINESS AS OF THIS COUNTRY'S WEALTH walL THAT CAN MEAN ONLY ONE THING FOR SALE TIE MA A TO HIGHEST THE BIDDER ENOUARE NOTHIN "I've got kids knocking on my (classroom) window at night asking for books," she said. "A second grader came back with a book for me to read and said, 'I read this book and I thought of I've never seen such a love of reading taking place." Ransford started by kicking Dick and Jane out of her classroom. Children read from more than 2,000 books in the classrooms rather than from stilted textbooks.
"The whole philosophy is children learn by immersion in print," she said. "What happens is kids gradually on their own begin to gravitate to books because they're everywhere." Reading and writing are intertwined. Instruction in such things as spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation occurs in mini-lessons as children read and write, not in separate classes. When students produce the first draft of a story, misspelled words are tolerated so that students' writing is not limited to the words they can spell correctly. But students must revise their pieces and eliminate mistakes before they are published that is, typed on a word processor.
"We care about (spelling). We just go about it differently," Ransford said. A list of words a child frequently misspells is compiled, too, for their reference in writing. That replaces circling mistakes on papers with a red pencil and handing it bakk. No more do children crumple up those corrected papers in humiliation since she can point out what a child did correctly, Ransford said.
They're milking Oklahoma tragedy to boost almighty television ratings Didja happen to watch Ted Ko- Adding ppel's Nightline May Didja birth of note another prime example of ing to the decline of the human psyche? Letters and nail Verily, another sample of the "constitooshen." shameless unending cases of also their milking the Oklahoma City trag- they BB edy for the sake of TV ratings Gamboling and, again, just another reveal- discount on coffins, limos, flow- in the ing peek into the human animal. ers, Seems that two drifters were "How can you be sure that that the time apprehended for questioning and dismembered arm, leg or kids. Aided 'later released. At first, one of the whatever was in truth the one talk show duo was overwhelmed by the effi- that had been wrenched from the some even ciency of the FBI and profusely body of your loved one in the ex- cinations waxing eloquent, complimented plosion?" and on and on. and foreign them for their vigilance, devotion Oh well, it supposedly titilates hiding to duty, etc.
However, depraved viewers and sells cab- when suddenly aware of opportu- bages and corn flakes? Remem- Baptist nities open to them, publicity, ber the dismay when, after much owner, lawsuits, their stories did an hoopla, our celebrated Geraldo the about-face, began hinting about opened Al Capone's safe and to proud how they'd been nastily derailed our disbelief, there was nothing ship card. in their pursuit of happiness, not there? I daresay that were a lo- Years to mention life, liberty and such. botomy performed on this wor- a model Odds are we can expect news of thy, results would be much the good legal action in their behalf same. takeover against the crass brutish minions On the same vein, we are truly find them of law and order in the near fu- blessed when we are allowed to crab lice. ture.
Not that I'd be unduly sur- digest the gems of wisdom with tionally prised were some of the past ex- our breakfast of curds and whey honest cesses of the J. Edgar Hoover era spewed forth by none other than type again unearthed! And the almost our beloved, though slightly corp- the stance cavalier parading of the suspect ulant, Rush Limbaugh: Not to forced McVeigh in his blaze-orange mention watching the clones cense "jammies" before a hostile threat- (hired?) in his audience drinking them ening mob was an ill-advised every hallowed word while worphoto-op. shipping the aura of his very To my surprise and relief, not a presence. Heartfelt thanks to our shot rang out as it did when Lee very own TV station for filling in Harvey Oswald was wasted by a void in our lives! the gun of Jack Ruby. And when And then there's that dreamand if McVeigh be brought to tri- boat, G.
Gordon Liddy! What a al, high-priced defense attorneys tribute to our penal system, havwill undoubtedly tear at our ing rehabilitated a two-bit conheartstrings abut his unfortu- victed burglar into a valued talk nate abused childhood, etc. show host! Among the bits of adHowever, Koppel's program vice he espouses "When dem comes out smelling like a rose nasty G-men come a-calling, when compared to the myriad of don't waste ammo with a chest despicable Geraldo type shot. Dey got dem bulletproof "exclusives" probing into every vests. Just shoot 'em on the nogsordid detail of some distraught gin." (Apologies to one Professor victims of the bombing. Avery Tower, who enlightened us "Since you lost a number of of late as to the origin of town your loved ones, did you not get a names in the U.P.) Joan Lagassee follows a similar process to teach vocabulary words, prefixes and punctuation to fourth graders.
In editing conferences, student and teacher correct mistakes together. "Now it's in what they're doing, instead of out of context" so children remember it better, she said. In a class last week, students were combining writing class with topics from a social studies lesson on Greek mythology to produce stories such as "Poseidon Gets Lost in the Sea." A traditionalist, Lagassee was reluctant to give up the security of following a textbook but is sold on teaching without it now. "Look at them. They would never do this before," she said as the students scurried to a favorite spot for reading time.
In Elisbeth Webb's high school language arts class, three seniors presented their senior project on how a local company might reduce drugs in the workplace. Much more than a term paper, it involved interviews with company executives, research, a presentation to the class and a question and answer period. A final report will be written later. "The kids were up on their feet talking to their peers, members of the community and school officials for an entire hour. That's a huge leap forward," Webb said.
"They were able to speak from notes, not read from a text. There are a whole lot of adults who could do that." Ransford said scores eventually will improve if children are taught to love to read. "It's going to make a big difference because a reader is a reader," she said. USUAL! might note that there's a solution available to the harassed members. It's called a ballot box.
I've been obliged to dispose of my firearms but, if comes the day when Secretary-General of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros Ghali (Bootless Beatrice Garlic, I call him), marches over the Big Mac bridge with a band of ragtag third world mercenaries and heads our way, I'll have to depend on dog Rufus to save the day. We all know he's equal to the task! Wilhart Niemi, 518 S. Steel Ontonagon Our Language By Jeffrey McQuain A. To get you started on your homework, I can suggest deer and fish as two nouns that may be used in singular or plural contexts. Also, you may want to consider proper nouns (or proper names).
For example, French may be singular or plural: French is a beautiful language, and the French are proud of it. Q. Our teacher told us to find nouns that are both singular and plural. What are some examples? to the mix, we see the a citizens' militia preparfight their gov'ment tooth while defending our And defending right to bear arms, be guns or bazookas. in the piney woods modern-day version of the hide-and-go-seek we usta while away when we were and abetted by rabid hosts and the NRA, mumble in their halluabout black helicopters soldiers at the ready in salt mines under Norman Olson, a minister and gunshop spurs them on, adding to paranoia, and, I daresay, a bearer of an NRA member- ago, I viewed the NRA as of decency and builder of citizenship but now, after by the opportunists, I about as helpful as Perhaps I've unintenraised the hackles of the sportsman and hobbygunshop owner, betrayed by of NRA officials.
It's legislation that raised lifees and sometimes tars with the same brush. We Doonesbury HEY, HONEY, IT'S ZONKER! HE'S DOING SURPRISINGLY HE JUST CALLING IN TO SEE WELL, SIR. HE'S REALLY HOW UNCLE DUKE IS COME AROUND ON TAKING TO 1601 TE STROICA DAILY GLOBE Ap MINT VERIFIED CIRCULATION MICHIGAN PICAS ABSOCIA Gary Lamberg Andy Hill Manager Managing Editor Ralph Ansami News Editor In our opinion Michigan celebrates Senior Center Week As part of a national observance, Gov. John Engler has declared May 14-20 Senior Center Week in Michigan. Across the Gogebic Range, Senior Centers have grown into focal points of fellowship for many in the area.
There are now more than 700 senior centers serving the needs of local communities in Michigan alone. As our population ages, the need for services provided by senior centers will increase. Area senior centers should be recognized for the variety of programs they deliver. Hot meals, enrichment programs and informational services are just a few of the services our senior centers provide. Many volunteers are enlisted to make various programs successful.
Senior centers have become vital places to many in our area. Some go to the center for a warm smile and a hot cup of coffee. Some go for the meals or other programs. But, for most, the senior center means a place to meet friends. It is appropriate to recognize the accomplishments and importance of senior centers during this special week.
The Globe reserves the right to reject illegible copy. Typewritten copy preferred Editor's note: The Daily Globe prefers typewritten copy whenever possible. Articles for submission to the paper. letters to the editor, wedding and engagement notices and other items of interest should be typed to avoid spelling and proofreading errors. BY GARRY TRUDEAU NOW SAYS HE WANTS TO THEN SHE TEACH LITTLE EARL ALL THE ANDIF HASTO RECHILDHOOD GAMES HIS FATHER, I WIN MOVE AN NEVER HAD TIME TO TEACH THE ARTICLE OF HIM! HAND? CLOTHING.
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