Foundations of Education and Instructional Assessment/Curriculum/Three R's

Is It Still the "Three R's"? By Kaitlyn Hitchings

Introduction

Sometime in the early 1800s, the Three R’s were introduced by Sir William Curtis (The Three R’s, 2008). Reading, writing, and arithmetic have since become the basis for all of our educational learning. Different teaching styles were then created by what was needed to teach the Three R’s. The idea of the Three R’s has changed in today’s classroom. With the introduction of technology, children are learning differently than students were twenty years ago. Computers, television, radio, and many other types of media are being introduced into the classroom. With this change of the idea of the Three R’s, it has ultimately changed teaching as a whole. What does this mean for the traditions of the classroom by using books to research information and also for the different styles of teaching?

The Original Classroom

Classrooms have been built around the concept of the Three R’s. The basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic are believed to be the basis of our children’s education. From the basic ideas came the basic teaching style. Direct instruction involves the teacher providing students with all of the necessary information to succeed through classroom lectures, examples, and explanations of problems. Students are required to absorb this knowledge with limited interactions with the teacher and other students. These students are easily able to master the fundamental ideas and concepts (Krueger, Saul, & Lin, 2000). This teaching style made it an excellent way to teach students material that was necessary to learn for state demanded standardized tests. Some people believe that “teaching to the test” is bad idea because there is no “teaching” involved, just the reciting of questions and answers. However, what if we changed the phrase to “teaching to a standard”? Teachers recite test examples because their goal is to help the students pass and do well while still learning the material. Tests are used as guides to help teachers create lesson plans around them. Tests include all items that are approved state standards of teaching (Matthew, 2006). While teachers may want to change the way they teach their classroom, they are required to teach the state mandated lessons.

Sources

Ediger, M (2007).Balance in the curriculum. College Student Journal. 41, 376-378.

Krueger, K, Saul, J, & Lin, P (2000). The learning curve. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from Teaching Styles Web site: http://library.thinkquest.org/C005704/ content_teaching_it_styles.php3

Matthews, J (2006, February 20). Let's teach to the test. The Washington Post, p. A21. Retrieved February 19, 2008, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/19/ AR2006021900976.html

Papert, Seymour (1993). Obsolete skill set: The 3 Rs - Literacy and letteracy in the media ages. Wired Magazine, Retrieved February 2, 2008, from http://www.papert.org/articles/ ObsoleteSkillSet.html

Retrieved February 18, 2008, from http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/ cartoonists/ mba/lowres/mban13l.jpg

The Three Rs. (2008). In Wikipedia [Web]. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/The_three_Rs

Washington (January 6, 2006). Many college students poor on 3 Rs. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from CBS NEWS Web site: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/19/national/ main1223251_page2.shtml

Application Questions

1. A(n) __________________ is a term that describes the different types of media that are available in today’s world.

    A. information machine
    B. knowledge machine
    C. multiple media
    D. visual media

2. What percentage of students at a four-year college were having difficulties in basic mathematical applications?

    A. 25%  
    B. 37%  
    C. 50%  
    D. 75%

3. Which teaching method is best used for providing students with all necessary information?

    A. cooperative learning  
    B. direct instruction  
    C. indirect instruction  
    D. self-directed instruction

Answers

1. B

2. C

3. B

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