GEN: Dick and Jane (was: family literacy)

[Ken Umbach <kumbach@UNLIMITED.NET>]

Hmmmm ... I am puzzled by your assertion regarding "look say" and the Dick
and Jane readers.  I recall using the Dick and Jane readers when I was in
elementary school (what, first grade?  1953 or thereabouts), but we
definitely also learned at least basic phonics -- the two worked together
hand-in-glove.   Although Dick and Jane and their dog what's-his-name may
not have been cutting edge literature, I have never felt that they deprived
me of a sound foundation in reading.  I recall the class reading in unison
and reciting individually.  That was fun and effective.  And I am eternally
grateful for the grounding in phonics, an advantage that my own kids
largely missed (as indeed they missed out on the eminently sensible and
effective use of drill and rote memorization to master the basic arithmetic
facts -- the result of which was lasting and irreparable damage to their
progress in mathematics).

(This is a comment to Joni Rathbun, but may be of interest to the list so I
am cc-ing LM_NET)

Regards,

Ken

--
Kenneth W. Umbach, Ph.D., Policy Analyst, California Research Bureau,
California State Library, 900 N Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95814
E-mail: kumbach@unlimited.net (or kumbach@library.ca.gov)
Phone: (voice) 916-653-6002 (fax) 916-654-5829
Home page and selected papers: http://home.inreach.com/kumbach
This message reflects my opinion, not that of my employer or anyone else.

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