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Jamie House's avatar

Perhaps it is a reduction in standards. Relegate the micro-skills to indicators. Provide more time for reading and writing with process as the emphasis not product. Make sure our desire to measure doesn't diminish the desire for the student to understand the world, be it through an author's lens or their own interests. Great read. Can't believe I missed it!

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Whitney Whealdon's avatar

Thanks, Jamie! I love the idea of process over product. Been reading about enabling conditions for change, which feels relevant here—we can’t predict or force the change, but if the conditions are right, the learning happens.

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Trey Erwin's avatar

Reading is so fun and enlightening. I hate that it gets reduced to easier-to-measure micro skills like “skim for gist” or “find salient detail X.” I think if education administrators want students to read better, teachers need time to read in class with students and talk about it. Act out some scenes. Write some fan fiction. It has to mean something!

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Whitney Whealdon's avatar

Yes! Those micro skills feel like death by 1,000 paper cuts! And I also wish teachers had more time for conversation and meaning making. Thank you for reading and adding to this conversation!

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Holli Kipker Jessee's avatar

Perfection! Thank you for putting the nuances of standards and systems into language that “clicks”!

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Whitney Whealdon's avatar

You're welcome! Maybe we will eventually be able to share our real thoughts in all public forums!

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