Chapter 2: What we teach

As I read this chapter I see two main points highlighted for me. The first being the use of textbooks and how it effects student learning. I feel that we are on the trend of so much individualization for students at their reading level that we stray away from using textbooks because they are written at a level above some of the class readers. This is where I feel we do a disservice to our kiddos, if they have no exposure to higher level text then they are at a disadvantage later in their school career when textbooks are the required means. Students don't know how to use a text if it is not used. When I taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th I used my textbooks and we had lots of class discussion as we read the text together. I felt that my lower level readers were just as successful with the text because the class discussion, notes, and graphic organizers used along with the textbooks allowed for them to understand the concepts even if the reading level of the text was above their "level".

The second main point I saw was about the number of standards. The author talks about reducing the number of standards taught at each content area by 40-50% and even more in literacy. I feel that at times we do try to cover so much material that really it is not always taught to full mastery. As I look at the packet of GLE's for each grade level, it can be overwhelming for the teacher to think that they need to make sure that they cover it all before May and hope that the time put towards each one is enough for the student to grasp it fully, which we know in our hearts is not the case.