The Reading Connection

By Janice Blanton

In Closing---

The Celebrating of the Graduates and REG and the Pondering of Serious Stuff

Congratulations to the CSUF 2000 Graduates who have earned their Masters Degree in Education with an emphasis on Reading Instruction. Welcome to an informed and caring group of educators who are making a difference! One of the "rewards" is that you automatically become a member of CSUF’s Reading Educators Guild (REG) without charge for a year. This is a marvelous organization which keeps the lines of communication and knowledge open which you had previously enjoyed while attending your graduate classes. Basically, this membership does not make demands on you—you will receive a bi-monthly newsletter and are to a couple of enjoyable events. The first event is the Concert Under the Stars which is held in early fall and involves attending a glorious concert performed by the talented musical artists from CSUF in the great outdoors and sitting with fellow graduates and professors—all for the sake of good cheer and good companionship. The second event is the Winter Dinner held in February at the Marriot Hotel. This includes dinner, friends, and a special guest speaker of prominence who has wisdom and enlightenment to share regarding the educational field. Past speakers in just the last two years included Dr. Norma Inabinette and Dr. Andrea Guillaume. You may have graduated, but we never disconnect! REG exists for this purpose. Again, congratulations and good luck.

As the term of office terminates for this particular REG Board Member and columnist (and it has been an enjoyable and stimulating three years), I thought that I would take the liberty of listing all questions and controversies that I have been pondering regarding current trends, policies, and behaviors being addressed among educators. I did not want to ponder all these items alone, so I am sharing them so that you may anguish over them, too! Just for the mental exercise, determine and then support your views on the following as if you were scheduled to present said views before your particular boss, administrator, or school board:

Do you feel giving students timed tests is a constructive aspect of assessment? Reasons?

Do you feel that all classrooms should be wired to the internet? Why?

Do you feel that taking an evaluation test to determine reading proficiency should be mandatory for high school freshman? College freshman?

Should there be specific follow-up intervention based on the tests results?

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Do you feel the Reading Specialists should be part of every elementary school faculty again?

How do you feel about the teachers in East (Massachusetts?) who lifted and taught parts of a standardized test to their students before the test was taken? Why do you think that they did it?

So much occurs almost daily to test your standards and philosophies regarding education. Through the CSUF Graduate Reading Program, we were fortunately forced to determine standards and philosophies for ourselves in the area of education. One of the best parts of higher education is that so much stimulating time is spent on addressing fascinating and inspiring philosophies. We interact; we exchange ideas; and we contemplate all aspects – in a rather safe environment. However, once we graduate and we are working in the real world, how many times do we really publicly express and defend our standards? Our philosophies? How often do we take the time to read between the lines of the latest proposal or mandate and consider how this seemingly simple proposal or mandate will impact our standards and philosophies in the classroom??? How often do you think it is worth the effort and the time to do so? Are you anguishing? I hope so.

In really closing out, I would like to share a little news story that Ellen Febonio sent my way. Please forgive me for not having official sources, but think as you read it, you’ll see that it probably really happened.

Something to think about…..

A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry.

The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back. Every one of them.

One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said: "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.

Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

I have certainly appreciated the opportunity to write this column and look forward to reading my successor’s ramblings as you have read mine for years. Isn’t being a Reading Instruction professional the most fulfilling, stimulating, and rewarding way to spend your time? What could possibly compare? Think about that one. Seriously!

Faculty Footnotes

By Kathi Bartle Angus

College of Human Development and Community Service (HDCS) celebrated its 40th Anniversary on April 15. The College is made up of the Divisions of Education, Child, Family, and Community Services, and Kinesiology and Health Promotion. A time capsule was buried near the "Fallen David" statue. There were several items of Reading Program memorabilia and faculty predictions for the future in the time capsule.

HDCS also hosted a "Celebrating Campus and Community" fair. Faculty, students, and alumni gathered in the University Center and its environs for a variety of activities including department displays, physical assessments and health screenings, musical entertainment, a Scholastic Book Fair, rappelling demonstrations, and other children’s games and activities. Alumna and faculty member JoAnn Carter-Wells was instrumental in organizing the events of the day. Norma Inabinette served as emcee for a number of events.

The Scholastic Book Fair was presented by the Reading Program and staffed by members of the Reading Educators Guild. The faculty would like to extend a warm thank you to the following alumni for their participation.

Peggy Hammer Donna Padgett
Toni Chambers Better Othmer
Chris Parmenter Jan Bagwell
JoAnne Greenbaum Ruth May-Siegrist

Notice!!!

Due to the expansion of the Reading Program, Ash Bishop is looking for new graduate faculty. If you would be interested in teaching a graduate class in Fall 2000, submit a letter of interest and current resume to Ash Bishop, Chair, Reading Program.

The Reading Educators Guild would like to congratulate the following students who have completed their studies and will be awarded their Masters degrees on May 27, 2000.

Congratulations New Grads!

The Reading Educators Guild would like to congratulate the following students who have completed their studies and will be awarded their Masters degrees on May 27, 2000.

Winter Graduates

Chrisamy Anderson
Jennifer Fisher
Victoria Hanson
RaeAnne Hernandez
Cathy Knowles
Sheila Kridner
Christee McCarthy
Paula McMiller
Julia Montoya
Isabel Neidl
Lee Nelson
Mary Patrick
Kimberly Nickolsen
Jen Powers
Charlene Stout
Cynda Sundstrom
Lietta Wood

Spring Graduates

Shawna Castoria
Yvette Espinosa-Hernandez
Susan Battenfield
Tracy Bellmar
Joyce Byers
Jill Caples
Sarah Coleman
Debbie Dahl
Jordan Fabish
Lori Grodin
Mary Hansen
Rebekah Harvey
Tina Haymes
Kimberly Hively
Barbara Jindra
Barbara Maroshek
Jan Lee
Elizabeth Milner
Kristi McClung
Monique Moore
Brit Loftesnes Montrella
Susanne Mulhaidly
Karen Nowak
Kristina Nusenow
Lee Ann Paris-Robles
Laura Payne
Melissa Ryan
Cristina Sanchez
Sarah Sidwell
Tara Steele
Kristina Thomson
Sylvia Villasenor
Heidi Wajda
Holly Walker
Pamela Weber
Tricia Yamamoto

Hancock Fund

The Hancock Fund was established to honor Dr. Deborah Osen Hancock for her contributions to the field of reading and specifically to the Reading Department. The fund is solely for use by the CSUF Reading Clinic. Over the years, the fund has supplied books and technology for use by clinicians and students. REG would like to thank the following members for their generous contributions to the Hancock Fund:

Chris Parmenter

Reading Educators' Guild Newsletter Staff

Editor: Jan Bagwell

Faculty Footnotes: Kathi Bartle Angus

The Reading Connection: Janice Blanton

If you would like to contribute to the newsletter, by being a regular column writer or just an occasional article donator, please contact Jan Bagwell at jbagwell@fullerton.edu. We need all of you to help make REG great!