Phonics Debated in Cedar Rapids Reading Plans
Cedar Rapids district uses analytic phonics alongside limited letter-sound instruction while exploring a systems approach. Seventeen of 28 elementaries use Scott Foresman series, 11 use newer Scott Foresman Reading Systems or Harper Rowe. six junior highs adopt Reading Systems. Critics call analytic phonics “phony phonics” as teachers test and tailor objectives toward 90 percent mastery before progression.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids Community
Reading Reform Foundation
Cedar Rapids
Scott Foresman
Harper-Rowe
C R Officials Endorse Analytic Phonics Approach
School officials favor Scott Foresman analytic phonics with emphasis on pictures context and sentence-based reading. Mildred Middleton notes other methods exist while detailing how root words prefixes and suffixes aid meaning, and how consonants drive decoding.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Scott Foresman
Mildred Middleton
Miss Middleton
New
Reading Systems phonics claims and early word cues
Promos by Scott Foresman describe Reading Systems as limiting vocabulary to about 900 words by end of first grade with intensive phonics raising vocab to 2000 plus. The literature emphasizes semantic and syntactic context, picture cues, and letter-sound knowledge, and notes that the term phonics is not used in Reading Systems. Teachers using the old Scott Foresman series employ similar methods to the new series.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Open Court
Scott Foresman
Richard McClain
Taylor
McClain
Cedar Rapids
Winnipeg
Canada
Mary Johnson
Ron
Johnson
Teaching Vowels Through Context and Sight Vocabulary
Elizabeth Cornett explains vowels are taught incidentally in first grade with letter sounds embedded in words and context. Reading aims for meaning and sight vocabulary rather than isolated phonics. students spell by ear and demonstrate correct spelling on board. Billy Parr discusses switching to Reading Systems and her prior work with Ginn and Co materials and decoding charts for primary grades.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elizabeth Cornett
Kenwood Elementary
Billy Parr
Squaw Creek
Scott Foresman
Noelridge
Parr
Ginn and Co
Reading Methods Emphasize Comprehension Over Sounding Out
The article discusses a reading program focusing on sight words and context to build confidence and comprehension. It contrasts word-attack methods with initial consonant substitutions and notes studies by Cedar Rapids and Winnipeg researchers. It cites Scott Foresman materials and examples like tumbled to illustrate contextual reading.
Correcting Misreadings in Early Reading Debate
Teachers vary on correcting miscue in reading and weigh meaning versus code. Critics question Scott Foresman decoding ratings while experts like Chall advocate strong phonics and early code learning for better word recognition and later comprehension. Cedar Rapids schools await a new reading series choice among Harper Rowe, Scott Foresman, and a third option.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Scott Foresman
Market Data Retrieval, Inc
New York
Kenneth Goodman
Jean Chall
Harvard University
Cedar Rapids
Harper-Rowe
Committee selects new reading series for Cedar Rapids schools
A Cedar Rapids committee of teachers outlined criteria for a new reading series to emphasize vocabulary in context repeated for mastery and to teach independent word attack. They favor contemporary motivational materials with varied writing forms and strong literature throughout.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cornett
Harcourt-Brace
Houghton-Mifflin
Macmillan
Miss Middleton
Cedar Rapids
Language development in Scott Foresman kindergarten program
The program emphasizes oral expression and background knowledge to aid reading. It starts with vocabulary and animal themes, then builds through grades to life science readings. Alphabet is taught in kindergarten with consonant sounds early and vowel sounds delayed to later grades.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Scott Foresman
Arlene Thompson
Miss Middleton
Huggins Named Acting Director of Kirkwood Unit
Roger Huggins named acting director of Kirkwood Community College’s community education division for 1975 76. He takes duties from Gay Dahn who becomes project director for the ACCTion program aiding 114 colleges. Kirkwood’s 1974 75 enrollment reached 36 000 with programs across Cedar Rapids Marion Iowa City Washington Jones Cedar counties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roger Huggins
Kirkwood Community College
Huggins
Gay Dahn
Kirkwood
Anamosa Men’s Reformatory
Lowell Rutz
Anamosa
Jones
Cedar Counties
Earl Kempf
Linn
Benton
Cedar Rapids
Marion
Social Security Coverage Rules and Local Office Details
A reader asks about work coverage under Social Security for family employment and grandchild benefits. It explains unaffecting coverage for spousal and parent-child employment and notes a grandchild may qualify for benefits on the grandparent’s record if parents are dead or disabled, with Cedar Rapids office in room 300 SGA Building 122 Second Street SE contacting 366 2411 extension 431.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Also Mentioned on This Page
By Judy Daubenmier
Texas State Textbook Committee
C.R
Analytic Phonics
George Washington
Coreg
Carol Ballantyne
South
I Iowa
Washington Counties
Iowa City
Washington
England
Edward I
Gazette
Sun
Collins RD
N.E
Asta Bezad Ae
Total Konica Automation
Rhea
Ololens
Lely
Konica
Linn Photo Stores
Linn Photo
3Rd Ave.s.e
1St Ave
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