Pendulum Changes

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How do educators meet the challenge of changes? Morris (2015), shared the movement of the pendulum in 1980, stating that a giant pendulum movement began with reading instruction in the United States. Competing theories, concern about reading failures, and new research findings are all part of a back and forth change which occurs every 10 years or so. The pendulum plays a significant role in implementing changes to the paradigm of education. The role of the educational leader is also affected by the pendulum. In this paper, a discussion of what the education pendulum is and why it exists, strategies used to implement changes in the paradigm, and discussion about the educational leader’s role in changing the paradigm if the shift occurs. Morris (2015), further stated that politicians as well as commercial publishers played a role in instigating and benefiting from the cyclical changes in beginning reading instruction. Examples of how the pendulum existed features the Federal legislation (No Child Left Behind Act, 2002) mandating schools receiving Title I funds to use rigorous phonics …show more content…

The pendulum represents changes that affects school curriculum, education materials and often opinions about what is best for students.’ Each swing of the pendulum represents solving problems (Jenkins, 2012). The pendulum can swing in reading as well as other subjects. Mellon (1999), declared that the pendulum of education never stops in the middle. Students with Special Needs presents an area that has experienced the “pendulum swing.” The notion of inclusion is an area of disagreement among stakeholders. Tkachyk (2013) noted that inclusion would function only if there were enough support in place for teachers and students. Furthermore, according to Tkachyk (2013), Special Needs students may not experience their greatest potential in a fully inclusive

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