Rebalancing Literacy in the US - What Nonprofits Need to Do Now... (news)

Nonprofitnewsfeed.com

 

Fight Over Phonics Forces Curricula Revisions In Number Of U.S. Schools

Lucy Calkins, an education professor and creator of the popular “Units of Study” curriculum used by a quarter of U.S. elementary schools, has significantly revised her approach to early reading instruction, as reported by The New York Times. In response to mounting criticism from parents and educators who promote the “science of reading” and an increased focus on phonics, Calkins has overhauled her curriculum to include daily structured phonics lessons and more rigorous texts, swapping out light reading assignments. The revised curriculum, due for release this summer, also includes a 20-page guide summarizing 50 years of cognitive research on reading. Calkins has traditionally championed “balanced literacy,” which emphasizes thematic exploration and personal choice in reading, over phonics-focused approaches. Her shift reflects a growing consensus on the importance of phonics in early reading education, with brain science and educational policies increasingly favoring this method. Critics of Calkins suggest that her previous approaches have contributed to a literacy crisis in America and critique her singular influence on literacy education, although assessments of her methods' effectiveness have been mixed.

Read more ➝

 

Summary

• Turned Away and Left at Sea  |  nytimes.com
• ProPublica Adds More Than a Million New Records to Nonprofit Explorer
• For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Safety for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers  |  Human Rights Campaign

 

Sponsor: Nonprofit.ist 

Request for Conversations (RFCs) can save a TON of time in figuring out the type of project you need done and experts at Nonprofit.ist love to have those conversations. Nonprofit.ist is trusted by over 4k nonprofits and is a network designed specifically for nonprofits like you.

At Nonprofit.ist, we understand the pain of finding the right expert to help with your specific needs. Endless searching and sifting through irrelevant information can be frustrating and time-consuming. This is why for 5 years we have built up experts across a breadth of areas for the sector: 

Accounting & Finance	Human Resources
Board Development	Leadership Development
Coaching	Legal
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion	Marketing and Communications
Evaluation and Learning	Organizational Assessment
Executive Transition	Strategic Planning
Fundraising	Technology
Web Design	Ad Grants