Donald Graves Use Of Educational Strategies In Charter Schools

According to Donald Graves, "The authors [of the textbook] make complicated theories of comprehension accessible to teachers" (Harvey & Goodvis, 2007). Having not completed the text yet, I cannot commit to the veracity of the statement, as the statement refers specifically to the authors of this textbook. However, it is my opinion that although theories are, in general, accessible to teachers, the multitudes available cause more confusion than the theories themselves. I find myself frequently asking, "Where do I begin?" The most significant consolation to the multitudes of theories and strategies that Graves offered in his foreword was that "We can't tell children how to read; we simply have to show them" (Harvey Goodvis, 2007, p. xvi).

2). Educational strategies that include project based and life application strategies focus on demonstrating how to accomplish these tasks via a gradual responsibility model and philosophy. The numerous charter schools in New Mexico are a good example of how the many theories supported by the similar strategies. In Albuquerque, two local charter schools, The International School at Mesa del Sol and Health Leadership High School, both use project based and life application strategies. Yet, one theory stems from the International Baccalaureate Program established by Marie-Thérèse Maurette (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/expateducation/8846162/Know-your-child-before-opting-for-the-International-Baccalaureate.html ) and the other follows a theory by John Dewey (http://www.nea.org/tools/16963.html ). The strategies employed at each school are so similar, one might think the schools as sister schools. In fact, IB schools pay thousands of dollars to acquire certification while the PBL schools do not. Consequently, it is my contention that the multitudes of strategies available for each theory cause the most confusion, not the theory itself. Where do I begin? Which strategy will work for me, for my class, for my learner? Comprehending a specific theory seems relatively simple compared to deciding which strategy to exercise, out of the multitudes available for each strategy, when each represents a diverse cross-section of the various theories, is the difficult