TEXAS ALTERNATIVE DOCUMENT FOR PK12 LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS \doc\web\97\07\tad.txt From: family Subject: Ed Loop -TAD To all, I recently presented the TAD (Texas Alternative Document) for language arts to the KGB school board. This document addresses in detail expectations from preschool to 12th grade. Preschool? Yes, we can have expectations of parents. There is detail regarding phonetic or phonemic expectations that reflect the latest research, along with intervention plans starting at Kindergarten for those who are not acquiring the skills. (Our recent language arts curriculum does not go into such detail.) This document reflects the importance of reading and the serious need and expectation to get every child reading. I would like to have this community and the State take such serious action to ensure that every child can read and become functionally literate. The curriculum is to be a working document and should be amended to add this reading specificity. Limited Phonics instruction of consonant and vowel sounds is not enough. Haphazard phonemic pickup while reading is not acceptable, and will lead to many students not acquiring the needed skills. While total explicit phonemic instruction (including Morphemes etc.) and skills are needed, it is not to say that those skills should be the only thing taught to create a fully developed reader. I am forwarding an email from a national diverse group of educators , researchers, and citizens called the "Education Loop". The following writer gives some history of the TAD and the expertise and dedication of many of those involved including the Texas state board member Donna Ballard. I hope we can utilize the product of their hard work. Those involved in the TAD development put enormous effort into an academic document that if understood and implemented would change the academic outcome of our students that are currently underachieving. The document is not copy rite and can be freely used in its entirety. Ironically, as I write this I had a call from Dr. Eldo Bergman of the Texas Reading Institute He is such an amazing man with a never ending knowledge of research, linguistics and what needs to be done to get kids reading and spelling. If we had the guts to take someone like this to lay out a program and follow through instead of amateur consensus we could make historic strides in education. I will forward more information later. I will be encouraging Commissioner Holloway to contact this man since I could not do justice in trying to relay the information and knowledge he possesses. I may forward other items of interest from this group and put Ed Loop- in the subject area. Everyone doesn't always agree in this group, and their may be some frank opposing opinions, but the overall push for high academic standards are evident. The web site for the TAD is: http://www.htcomp.net/tad/ --------------------------------- It was reported in today's Houston Chronicle that State Board of Education member Donna Ballard may be stepping down. Her husband is a new preacher in Midland and Donna first choice has always been for her family. They currently live in East Texas. When we speak of one person making a difference in education Donna Ballard has no equal. For the past three years on the state board she stood tall and didn't compromise herself or the children of Texas. Donna and I can go back to a historic meeting [I] called her, Dr. Barbara Foorman, Dr. Jack Fletcher, Dr. David Francis, (Foorman is now one of the nations finest reading researchers and has joined the U of Texas system along with Fletcher and Francis and Dr. Eldo Bergman (Bergman is now Executive Director of the Texas Reading Institute, a leading institute in intervention for reading disorders and myself working with the Charles A. Dana Center) to discuss findings and research on reading and reading disabilities. This meeting started the ball rolling for Donna who had always stated that her major concern was all children learning to read. One may say that this group was part of the catalytic force with the major force behind Governor Bush's Reading Initiative. Several months later Donna phoned and asked me to arrange for reading experts to testify before the state board on reading in July 95'. The June meeting had been dominated by "whole language" folks from around the state. The State of Texas has not been the same since the July meeting. Marilyn Jager Adams, the most quoted researcher in reading, National Right to Read Foundation President Bob Sweet (now major advisor on Rep Goodling's Education and WorkForce Committee), and U of Albany's Michael Pressly. This meeting open was the straw that broke the back of the whole language movement in Texas. Donna was then able to continue her efforts to insure the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) were being done right. Of course, our LOOP member Donna Garner was hearing all this scientific research and in October 95' took the ball and ran by developing the Alternative TEKS English Language Arts Document (TAD). Governor Bush presented his Reading Initiative in Feb.96', and the rest is history. When a person has a vision and determination as Donna Ballard sets forth on a mission things begin to happen. The time for her to move on may be near but I assure you that Texas public education will never be the same since Donna Ballard stood up and was counted. We should never stop the good fight, you never know when a Donna Ballard will appear on the scene and help you along. Jimmy Jimmy Kilpatrick Coordinator of Community Programs University of Texas at Austin Charles A. Dana Center 1723 Westheimer Road Houston,Texas 77098-1611