Re: vygotsky and contextualism

Ray Gen (randjgen who-is-at telis.org)
Sun, 21 Mar 1999 15:24:59 -0800

The sad part of teaching language and literacy in California is that the
curriculum is increasingly becoming isolated, decontextualized and
sequestered. The politicians wrested the control of the curriculum away
from the practitioners and have relegated us to be mere deliverers of
static information that they determine as being important. The new
framework and content standards for language arts are stifling. The new
standards and framework go as far as to dictate which particular verbs to
teach and at what grade. These verbs must be taught regardless of what is
being read in the classroom. What's a practitioner to do?

---
Ray Gen
English Dept Chair, El Segundo High School
Pepperdine University EDET (student)

At 12:03 PM 3/21/99 -0600, you wrote: >Phil, > >My understanding is invented spelling is an approach in that we do not hold >back the child's use of writing until they master the cultural spellings of >words. A common example would be a child leaving out of vowels as "kt" >when spelling cat. My experience though is it has become intertwined with >the developmental discourse in which children goes through various stages >of readiness in which "conventional spelling" is the end result. My >understanding of invented spelling is that it was originally in opposition >to the belief that one needed to master the rules of language before one >participated in its use. > >For me, it does bring up the dilemma that since children who use invented >spelling utilize phonetic awareness, isn't a teacher who teaches phonics >advocating invented spelling? :) > >As one of my T-shirts say: Hookt on Fonix rilly wurkt for mee! > >Nate > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Phil Graham <pw.graham who-is-at student.qut.edu.au> >To: <xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu> >Sent: Sunday, March 21, 1999 10:48 AM >Subject: Re: vygotsky and contextualism > > >> At 06:41 21-03-99 -0700, you wrote: >> >They actually use the word context. To be certified to do staff >> >development under 1086 in California one must swear to two oaths. One is >> >not to use teach the use of context and the other is not to advocate >> >invented spelling. >> >> What's invented spelling? >> >> Phil >> Phil Graham >> p.graham who-is-at qut.edu.au >> http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/8314/index.html >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >--- >> "Another damned fat book, eh, Mr Gibbon? Scribble, scribble, scribble, >eh, >> Mr Gibbon?" - The Duke of Gloucester to Edward Gibbon upon the >publication >> of "Decline and Fall". >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >--- >> >