Children give views on teaching phonics and favorite books
My class discussed your article "Two different teaching methods yield similarly low scores" (Oct. 3). Both schools should have spent their money more wisely.
I think the schools should combine phonics and whole language because that might bring them up to at least a 2.0-grade reading level. Also, if you showed children different kinds of writing, they might look forward to reading and writing. The teachers could have visited other schools to look for more ideas.
I hope the students at both schools get 2.0 next year. It is important not to get behind in reading.
Reed Blaylock
Pikesville
Grace and St. Peters School
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I am sorry that the two schools, City Springs Elementary and Lyndhurst Elementary, can't teach their students to get up to 2.0 by the end of first grade, although they are pushing hard.
I think schools that can't decide if they should teach reading with phonics or whole language could try teaching half a school year teaching phonics and the other half teaching whole language. They could do that because it could be more interesting and the kids will pay more attention.
Heather DeBell
Baltimore
Grace and St. Peters School
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There should be a combination of phonics and whole language. Maybe it could be called "phole language" because children would get a little bit of both. I think the students would get higher scores if they could figure out new words and realize that reading opens doors to amazing stories and knowledge.
I hope when principals come to their senses, you'll publish more articles like this. But I hope they will have headlines like, "Test scores really affected by teaching methods."
Lily C. Gordon
Baltimore
Grace and St. Peters School
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Classes should be smaller, and both schools should spend some money for books on tape so parents who can't read can learn to follow the words along with their children at home. I hope both schools will improve, no matter whose suggestions they follow.
Sandy Grillo
Randallstown
Grace and St. Peters School
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If you are just taught phonics, you won't see the fun in reading, and if you are only taught whole language, you won't know how to sound out big words.
Also, both schools need a nice, quiet place to read. I think you also should have written about the students' parents. If they don't read to their children, the students might not see the fun in reading.
I hope both schools will look at other schools that have good readers and start making their students better readers.
Rosalind Kreizenbeck
Baltimore
Grace and St. Peters School
I think children would have read more if they had spent money on books for kids to read at home with their parents. They should also use some money for workbooks.
The students should read in a comfortable area. One school library our teacher told us about has old-fashioned bathtubs with cushions in them.
Michael Frection
Bowie
Grace and St. Peters School
Reading problems are partly the parents' fault because they probably don't read to their children enough and let them watch too much TV.
The teachers have their faults, too, because they didn't combine the two teaching methods. Maybe children could increase their vocabulary by reading more advanced books.
Or, if the school is only going to teach the phonics method, they could make it fun by playing Scrabble and other word games like we did on rainy days in first grade.
Taylor Beckham
Baltimore
Grace and St. Peters School
Pinderhughes third-graders share their favorite books
Reading helps me learn new things. I like to read because it's fun. A story I like a lot is "The Brass Ring," by Nancy Tafuri. It's about a girl who goes to the circus, rides on a horse and wins a golden ring.
Kelly Dukes
Baltimore
William Pinderhughes Elementary
My favorite reading experience would be to write my own book. If I could, the title would be "Be Kind to the Earth." It would be about how to treat the Earth so it will stay around for the future.
Jamaal Wilton Baltimore William Pinderhughes Elementary I want become a better reader. I read every day to become a better reader. I once read a book called "Curious George," by H. A. Rey. It is my favorite book.
Vic Fenner
Baltimore
William Pinderhughes Elementary
Fulton Elementary fourth-graders' readings
My favorite book is called "Taking Care of Your Dog." It is my favorite because I can learn how to take care of my dogs. Dogs are my second-favorite animal.
My dogs are very important to me, and that is why this is my favorite book.
Also, this book shows every kind of dog, some people have never heard of. Dogs are fun to be with, and they protect people.
Roni Suit
Clarksville
Fulton Elementary
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My favorite book is "Moby Dick." It is very exciting when the men catch a big whale and it crashes into the boat, breaking the vessel in half. It's kind of a funny story because a person falls off the boat and lands face first in the water.
I recommend this book to anyone over age 8 because it is kind of violent when people die and when they catch and kill whales.
I bought the book because the cover looked cool, and I wanted to read a long book. I finished reading it about a month ago. It took me about one and a half months.
James Bonhag
Highland
Fulton Elementary
The Haunted Trail" is my absolute favorite book because it is exciting in many ways. For example, a girl had an almost perfect horse, and it died.
Later, she was on a trail ride, and te horse came back! It was weird because she was the only one who could see or touch it unless she told the horse to make itself visible.
The girl and the people who were with her got lost and lost their horses after something spooked them. They walked to shelter because it started to lightning and rain heavily. The ghost horse followed them to the shelter.
The author of the book is Janni Lee Simner. I think she writes good books. This one has no pictures, but you can imagine pictures in your head easily.
Cori Riggin
Silver Spring
Fulton Elementary
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I'm writing to tell you a little about my favorite book. It is called "Where the Red Fern Grows," by Wilson Rawls.
This book is fantastic! My favorite part is when Little Ann falls through thin ice, and Old Dan saves her. That part is really good because if you put the book down, you will be in true suspense.
It is very exciting. On the other hand, it is very dramatic because Old Dan dies from being in a fight with a lion, in which he loses too much blood.
Little Ann misses him so much that she won't eat or get exercise, so she gets sick.
But at the very end of the book, near where the dogs are buried, a red fern grows. That part can be very emotional.
This book changes feelings a lot. I would really encourage you to read this book.
Kayla Riffle
Clarksville
Fulton Elementary
Children's letters
The Sun is seeking letters from elementary schoolchildren about their favorite books and reading experiences. Selected fTC letters will be edited and published in the editorial pages.
Letters should be no longer than 200 words and should include the name and address of the writer, along with day and evening telephone numbers of parents.
Send letters to Letters to the Editor, The Sun, P.O. Box 1377, Baltimore 21278-0001. Our fax number for letters is 410-332-6977. The e-mail address is letteraltsun.com.
Pub Date: 11/07/98