Move to 'discovery learning' worries parents of young readers

Many parents in Alberta are worried that the new curriculum being tested by the province is making it more difficult for their children to learn how to read.

The curriculum, scheduled to be implemented in2016, focuses on the"discovery learning" method over phonics, somethingJoelleBrennan believes is a mistake.

While herseven-year-old son Rylan loves to read now, he was having trouble learning to read at school despite hisreport card indicatinghe was reading at grade level.

"If you gave him a new book to look at, he couldn't really pick out a word or sound out a word," Brennansaid.

ThoughRylanBrennan knewthe letters of the alphabet and the sounds they make, he couldnot break a word into those sounds, she said.

"There was nosounding a word out."

Less sounding out, less memorization

Teachers outside the school system say they've heard many stories similar to theBrennan family's.

"If you look at Alberta curriculum in reading and in math, they're using more of a discovery methodology of learning," saidJim Argue with Sylvan Learning Centres. "You'll hear that everywhere, discovery.

"Discovery basically means that we're relying on students to learn intrinsically more than we are saying - 'here's specific things we're going to teach you, and you're going to learn from those things and then go out and learn intrinsically,'" he said. "I think that's where some of the problems lie."

Current Education Minister Jeff Johnson was co-chair of thecommittee,which delivered theInspiring Education report in 2010.

The committee focused on what skills students who will come of age in 2030will need in atechnology driven,knowledge-based economy adding to the three Rs,the three Es;engaged thinking, ethical citizens andentrepreneurial spirit.

Economy requires new skills, minister says

The report suggests there needs be less focus on directed learning to teaching kids to learn on their owna skill the authors argue students willneed when technology can tell them just about anything they need to know.

The newcurriculumwill"move education to a process of inquiry and discovery not just the dissemination of information and recall of facts," the report said.

"In a system that is more learner-centred and competency based,Albertanssee the role of the teacher changing from that of a knowledge authority to an architect of learning - one who plans, designs and oversees learning activities."

But thatdirection seemscontrary to where many parents want the curriculum to go.

Parents interviewed in a 2006 Alberta K-3 curriculum review, said their number one priority when it came to teaching literacy skills was to"focus on the basics."

It's that schism that is leading some parentslike the Brennans to hirea private tutor for $400 a month andothers movingtheir childrento schools that still teach the basics.