Thanks very much for a letter on April 30 from a retired teacher about my Springfield School Board campaign for Position 5. I appreciate input from teachers, retired teachers, parents, students and community members.

The letter writer said: “I would ask Langworthy, what teaching method she supports for including these subjects in curricula for third-grade students? What emphasis would she, likewise, place on basic reading skills and comprehension?”

The school board’s job is not to determine curriculum (what is taught) nor instruction (how it is taught), but is responsible for the results. Therefore, as a board member, I surely will be asking questions such as these.

First, I am concerned that the curriculum in grades K-5 has become too narrow. I will inquire about the number of instruction hours for science inquiry and experimentation, as well as for social studies, such as history, civics, geography and art. From math to music and history to health, a well-rounded curriculum can make for well-rounded and prepared students.

As for reading instruction, I will ask central admin, principals and teachers about instruction that engages our kids, that makes them curious and eager to learn, that motivates them to try their best to master all five of the key components: phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension strategies, fluency and vocabulary.

Are we practicing phonics until all the English sound-letter combinations are mastered? Are we assigning reading entire books, not just passages? Interactive group work, class discussions and debates about comprehension of the reading content? Writing book reports in different formats? Writing letters back to the author?

Together, the school board, the superintendent, the district’s staff and the public can review what we are doing well, and what we can do to improve our children’s education.

Amber Langworthy

Springfield