NANCY VEATCH
Literacy has become a problem in our country, with many students being passed through to the next grade level when they should be held back because they do not comprehend what they are reading and teachers do not have time to help them.
"By the time students get to high school, they are told to read the chapter and answer the questions, but many aren't literate, so they don't know what to do because they were never taught," said Nancy Veatch, a sixth grade teacher at Evergreen Middle School and a professor at CSU, Chico in singular and multiple credential programs.
"These students either end up failing and dropping out of school or they end up in remedial classes in college before they can even begin their basic course work."
According to the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences, 53 percent of college students end up taking remedial classes in college.
"Many teachers and student teachers know what they need to do, they just aren't sure how to put it into practice," said Veatch.
Veatch has been a teacher since 1991 and started teaching at CSU, Chico in 2003. She and Doctor Mimi Miller, a professor at CSU, Chico in literacy education, co-wrote a book together about adolescent literacy. According to Veatch, she was sitting in a terminal at San Francisco International Airport and when the idea of writing a book explaining how to teach adolescence literacy came to her.
"I wanted to create a book that explained to student teachers what to do. It is very important to be literate, and it isn't just English and Reading classes that can teach kids this, many subjects can teach students to be literate, like Math," said Veatch. "The teachers expect the students to know what they are saying and be able to read the Math book and solve the problems, but many can't because they do not comprehend the meaning of what they are reading."
According to Veatch, many studies have shown a connection to literacy and drop out rates in schools. Veatch feels that saturating the students learning environment in every class with literacy will give students an opportunity to learn it and practice it and build upon it. Veatch also thinks teaching students how to use the textbook by showing them where the index is and what a glossary is used for, can also help students down the road in high school and college.
Veatch's sixth grade class and Evergreen Middle School also participate in the Newspapers in Education program. Thanks to sponsors like Kent's Meats and Wal-Mart, the Valley Post is able to drop off copies of the paper ever Wednesday to the school.
Veatch will be heading to New Orleans, Louisiana to present the LinC model and how to use it to embed literacy into content area teaching.
Veatch's book is divided into two parts. The first part explains fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and motivation. The second part is the instructional model and explains how to embed the four points of part one into teaching.
The book is designed for college students focusing on teaching and literacy, and will also be sold as a professional guide for teachers.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 1
adman writes:
Let's recognize Mrs. Veatch as the true professional she is. Literacy is maybe the primary reason that our system of government functions as it does. Without it, those in power can use intimidation to force their ways. With it, the "common folk" are able to study the issues and come to their own conclusions. Mrs. Veatch is committed to doing all she can to ensure that the playing field is more level than it would be if people were not able to read and keep them selves informed. Thank You Mrs. Veatch!
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