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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Thursday, October 16, 2003

ISLAND VOICES
Get back to basics in reading

By Janet Powell
A reading specialist at Kawaihona O Ka Na Auao, a new charter school in Makaha

The goals set by the federal No Child Left Behind education law are not unrealistic. They are necessary if our children are to function as global citizens.

The praising of the current increase in performance for our children is ridiculous and does them such an injustice. We have moved from low "F" to high "F," and applauding this situation in the name of progress is an insult to our children.

"At risk" students are those who have not mastered the pattern of formal English well enough to read it. This is hardly addressed, and little seems to be known about how to recognize and teach children out of this hidden disability.

It is so easy to do.

Teachers need workshops to teach them how to focus on the individual child and where he is in his ability to relate to the unnatural act of reading. Importing Mainland reading systems is not working.

These systems cost a ridiculous amount of money and do not service our children well. The books and materials used to teach our children must relate to our children. As we capitalize on the personalities and cultures of our Island children instead of ignoring them, our children will move to a high percentage of achievement.

We have to stop spending huge amounts of money on Mainland systems and teach our children to read, write and think with the equipment they have in their brain banks, starting where they are and moving forward in enrichment in oral, written and creative language activities. Teacher power with teacher-oriented displays do nothing to give our children a sense of accomplishment by recognition of the creative "mana" they do have.

The hearts of our children respond to art, play, song, rhyme and fun in reading. Children are reading every day. Stories relating to their culture are read — no problem.

The child needs to be the focus in teaching. Teachers need to learn how to start where each child is functioning and lead him forward. Teacher training, not money and systems, is needed. Children read better a long time ago without so much commercial "stuff" that takes the attention away from them and what they are doing.

Research tells us that reading leads to writing and good writing leads to good reading. We allow our children to do things "wrong" until they get really good at it.