"Alternate COREs" as suggested by some "experts"

[phenr...@gmail.com]

The current district I work for is thinking of purchasing an “alternate core” reading program based on the advice of Wayne Callendar a prior School Psych. And now a consultant. He has spoken at some large conventions.

 

I am worried that our district may spend a lot of money on something like Mastery Learning Signature series or another like this. With my background and knowledge of research and best practices in reading, I am worried that the district is making a huge mistake. I can see there are many needs in the district however, in an elementary setting, I do not believe an Alternate Core curriculum is the way to go. The teachers definitely need PD and also need to follow you’re an abundance of best practices because there are many instructional practices not in place here. I do not think having an alternate core will make a difference.

 

I am wondering if you could give me some advice for our district.

 

Can you help? I have read an abundance of research and practiced the research in reading as well for many years – putting research into practice.

 

 

 

[rall...@utk.edu]

For some reason lots of folks think buying a new "program" will improve their reading scores. Unfortunately, there is no research to support that view. None. The What Works Clearinghouse has a comprehensive review of the all the reliable research completed on 153 different reading programs. The only program with research that supports its use is Reading Recovery which is less a product and more a process of teacher development. Similarly, both Scanlon and Vellutino (2010) and McGill-Franzen, et al (1999) report powerful effects on reading achievement for 30 to 60 hours of targeted PD for K -1 teachers. It is teacher expertise that really matters not the materials teacher use. Time after time we find that research studies demonstrate that some teachers get good results with any program but always find that most teachers don't get good results regardless of which program they use. But there are no large corporations right now pushing PD but lots of them pushing paper/pencil products. Because there are a lot more sales reps than researchers out in the field, the products get pushed to naive educators who are always hoping the next new product will solve their problems.