more non-educators thinking they know what is best - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Coach Class

Submitted by Terri Ruyter, Apr 27, 2007 23:05

I work in a lot of schools that draw upon the approaches Lucy Calkins and the people who work with her recommends. Sure, not everyone buys in to the approach. But I have to say working along side the Reading and Writing Project staff pushes my own understandings and thinking about how children learn to lead literate lives.

Working in schools these days is an exercise in frustration. There are a lot of non-educators who think they know best about teaching and learning. I personally don't tell my doctor what to do (although we do have the Supreme Court thinking they can make the best medical decisions for women who may need to terminate a pregnancy...) and resent people who show up for a one day workshop thinking they have all the answers to the very complex challenges of teaching children to read and write.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Actually, utilizing a literacy coach in schools is a research based strategy that improves instruction. The coach should be a... [MORE]	Patricia	Apr 30, 2007 18:42
While I am not denying the validity of the process, success aldo depends on the capacity of the teachers to... [MORE]	Mike Vizzo	May 3, 2007 20:02
How can you teach so-called professional teachers to teach literacy, when those same public school teachers are illiterate themselves? The public... [MORE]	Mike Vizzo	Apr 30, 2007 18:07
As a former New Yorker who has made a home in Los Angeles for the past 26 years, I can... [MORE]	Charles McCleary	May 1, 2007 16:21
I work in a lot of schools that draw upon the approaches Lucy Calkins and the people who work with...	Terri Ruyter	Apr 27, 2007 23:05
How much more $$$ must go down the drain, and how many more children must be hurt before those at... [MORE]	Rena Stanford	Apr 27, 2007 21:49
As an urban middle school literacy coach who works with 600 students and 40 staff members, coaching is all about... [MORE]	Jibby Brown	Jul 31, 2007 07:51
... myopic articles such this. The author seems to suggest that coaching professions to hone their craft is somehow bullying the... [MORE]	Brett	Apr 27, 2007 20:31
Clearly, either the choice of the coach or the training of the coach did not involve a key component of... [MORE]	Kerin	Apr 27, 2007 11:37
Teacher's College has had a long, profitable relationship with NYC public schools. They have capitalized on their reputation as a... [MORE]	ann	Apr 27, 2007 10:37
Dos this course promote Whole Language, or a mix of methods, or synthetic phonics-first and only? [MORE]	Mona McNee	Apr 27, 2007 08:06
God, what a disappointment: I though this article was about 'Coach' bags, or shoes or other stuff, stuff that's important.... [MORE]	Maury Leon	Apr 27, 2007 14:40
This is in response to the comments of Maury Leon. You said, "So, you have a "coach" coaching a teacher, who... [MORE]	Marie	May 7, 2007 12:04