Rachel Otwell s Rethinking reading (
IT Feb. 25) raises the need for phonics instruction, the process of learning letter sounds. I agree. Phonics hasn t been stressed for many years. I encountered the lack of phonics instruction in 1970 as a student at the University of Illinois. One of my classes required tutoring a student in reading. My student did not know pronunciations so I introduced phonics. He improved. In my required paper for the class, I shared the success. The professor gave me a C, with the comment, Well-written. But, we do not teach phonics. Stunned, I said, If a child needs phonics, then I think phonics should be taught. He just peered at me and repeated, We do not teach phonics. I continue to believe teaching phonics is important.
On top: Laura Calderon and William Brewer. On bottom, from left: Sherri Winters, Andrea Rediger, Tiffani Saunders and Ann Strahle. Campaigns for Ball-Chatham s school board are underway. The six candidates gathered virtually March 4 for a forum in advance of the April 6 election. There are four seats up for election. According to 2020 figures from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), of about 4,750 students in the public school district in Chatham, 77.8% are white, 7.4% are of two or more races, 5.6% are Black, 5.2% are Asian and 4% are Hispanic. Meanwhile, 100% of teachers are white. Much of the forum discussed inclusion and teaching in culturally competent ways.