I am doing my practicum in a school where they use the Voyager Reading program. This is the first time that I have been exposed to this program. In this program, all the lessons are scripted. The teachers basically have no say in what they do. The teacher’s just do all that the programs says step by step.
The fist week of my practicum, I was placed in a second grade class and using these Voyager books, all the students did was read and then fill out worksheets. Then they went on break so I got switched to third grade. In this grade, it’s also Voyager but they have more hands-on activities. I have heard many different opinions on reading programs. Some teachers are completely against them and some in favor of them. I am not really familiar with any other reading programs and I wanted to know what you guys think of them.
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I have mixed feelings about these reading programs. Sometimes it is good if the teacher needs ideas or ways to teach information. I think that it is sad as well. It has really taken all of the fun and creativity out of teaching. I feel like anyone can read a script, but we have a special gift to be teachers. I hate the idea that these scripted programs make it look like anyone can be a teacher. I think that a good teacher can incorporate other materials into these scripted programs and I hope to be able to do that.
I was exposed to this program in my second practicum which was in a first grade classroom. After my second week my CT told me I was in charge of Voyager because he hated doing it. Being that it was my first introduction to it, he just handed me the script and told me to follow it. (In this school they did Voyager as a grade level. Each student who qualified for the program was given a designated group and sent to their assigned classroom.) Anyway, when the students of my group came in, I followed the script exactly. I felt like a robot. I felt like all of the fun was taken out of it and you were left with the script. Most of the students in my group didn't find the stories interesting, so reading became a chore for them.
I do think that this takes the fun out of reading. In my opinion the stories offered in these programs are not very interesting or fun to read. If students are not interested in the stories the rest will be quite meaningless. Also if the teaching doesn't seem real to them because of a script then they may not see the importance in the education. I have used some of these script reading programs and I also feel like a robot. It felt so impersonal. I think that some teachers can still use the scripts and make the lessons meaningful and interesting. I don't know how it can be done. I think it is difficult but possible. It is unfortunate to hear that kids are taught about literature by worksheets. All that will do is create a dislike for reading.
Scripted instruction has been an integral part of the direct instruction approach to education which has been presented as a structured alternative to the constructionist approaches to teaching like that of discovery learning. I like Shannon have mixed feelings about this program. For teachers who are not creative or for those who are just beginning teaching I feel that this could be a great program to use. It can really give a new teacher insights on how to “conduct” a lesson without the pressures of “What do I teach?” However, on the down side, I do feel that it makes it seem as though anyone who can read can be a teacher when we all know that this is not true. It does take the fun out of being a teacher and exploring new ways to teach and conduct lessons. Teachers need to be enthusiastic about what they are teaching and reading from a script does not make it seem fun for the students. I personally could not see myself teaching this way. I lean more towards the way of discovery learning and want my students to be able to interpret readings for themselves.
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