Comments on: Districts abandoning class-size reduction http://toped.svefoundation.org/2009/11/25/districts-abandoning-class-size-reduction/ Analysis, opinion and ruminations on California education policy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:03:08 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Marian Devincenzi http://toped.svefoundation.org/2009/11/25/districts-abandoning-class-size-reduction/comment-page-1/#comment-3689 Marian Devincenzi Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:45:27 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=606#comment-3689 I'm a Virgo! I did not have the exact information yesterday. In my letter of October 16, 2007 to Superintendent Jack O'Connell I wrote: I FEEL THAT SOME GROUP SHOULD DO A PILOT STUDY WITH "AT RISK" CHILDREN USING MS. PECCI'S METHOD AND HER PRE-PRIMERS. Jack O'Connell wrote in his letter of December 3, 2007: "Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as we continue to work towards closing the achievement gap." I’m a Virgo!

I did not have the exact information yesterday.

In my letter of October 16, 2007 to Superintendent Jack O’Connell I wrote:

I FEEL THAT SOME GROUP SHOULD DO A PILOT STUDY WITH “AT RISK” CHILDREN USING MS. PECCI’S METHOD AND HER PRE-PRIMERS.

Jack O’Connell wrote in his letter of December 3, 2007:

“Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as we continue to work towards closing the achievement gap.”

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]]> By: Marian Devincenzi http://toped.svefoundation.org/2009/11/25/districts-abandoning-class-size-reduction/comment-page-1/#comment-3459 Marian Devincenzi Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:05:59 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=606#comment-3459 December 6, 2009 For me, how beginning reading is taught is more important than class size. For teaching "at risk" students in first grade, my suggestion is that teachers, principals, etc. go to www.OnlineReadingTeacher.com and study my favorite reading teacher, Mary Pecci. Four screens explain her method. Ms. Pecci has just completed writing a reading series for first grade. Her book, AT LAST! A READING METHOD FOR EVERY CHILD! is in its fifth edition. Marian P.S. I did receive a reply from Jack O'Connell when I asked for a pilot study to be done on Ms.Pecci's method. He wrote that he would keep Ms. Pecci's reading method in mind. December 6, 2009

For me, how beginning reading is taught is more important than class size.

For teaching “at risk” students in first grade, my suggestion is that teachers, principals, etc. go to http://www.OnlineReadingTeacher.com and study my favorite reading teacher, Mary Pecci. Four screens explain her method. Ms. Pecci has just completed writing a reading series for first grade.

Her book, AT LAST! A READING METHOD FOR EVERY CHILD! is in its fifth edition.

Marian

P.S. I did receive a reply from Jack O’Connell when I asked for a pilot study to be done on Ms.Pecci’s method. He wrote that he would keep Ms. Pecci’s reading method in mind.

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]]> By: Paul Muench http://toped.svefoundation.org/2009/11/25/districts-abandoning-class-size-reduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2774 Paul Muench Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:43:39 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=606#comment-2774 As a politician Tom Campbell will have to make decisions on whatever information is available and I'd like to hear more about what he thinks. As a politician Tom Campbell will have to make decisions on whatever information is available and I’d like to hear more about what he thinks.

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]]> By: Reader http://toped.svefoundation.org/2009/11/25/districts-abandoning-class-size-reduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2773 Reader Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:27:38 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=606#comment-2773 Those studies, in particular, Tennessee STAR http://www.heros-inc.org/star.htm (a four-year longitudinal class-size study which used random assignment, the gold standard for measuring effects for this kind of research), found that positive effects from class size reduction didn't come in to play until you got down to 10 or 15 students. Therefore, Mr. Muench, they can't be compared to the study that found no evidence of improvement when reducing class sizes to 20. Not to mention, as Fensterwald acknowledges, the research was done "early in the program, after the state had hired thousands of inexperienced teachers needed to met the ratio." Those studies, in particular, Tennessee STAR http://www.heros-inc.org/star.htm (a four-year longitudinal class-size study which used random assignment, the gold standard for measuring effects for this kind of research), found that positive effects from class size reduction didn’t come in to play until you got down to 10 or 15 students. Therefore, Mr. Muench, they can’t be compared to the study that found no evidence of improvement when reducing class sizes to 20. Not to mention, as Fensterwald acknowledges, the research was done “early in the program, after the state had hired thousands of inexperienced teachers needed to met the ratio.”

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]]> By: Paul Muench http://toped.svefoundation.org/2009/11/25/districts-abandoning-class-size-reduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2743 Paul Muench Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:14:50 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=606#comment-2743 Tom Campbell's website is proposing that class size reduction should be a key element of education reform in California. He cites some of the more promising studies which examined class sizes between 10 and 15 students instead of 20. Any chance you can interview him so that we can see how he thinks about the different evidence? Tom Campbell’s website is proposing that class size reduction should be a key element of education reform in California. He cites some of the more promising studies which examined class sizes between 10 and 15 students instead of 20. Any chance you can interview him so that we can see how he thinks about the different evidence?

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