An article in the New York Times caught my eye, it highlights New York schools chancellor Carmen Fariña’s proposal to adopt a balanced literacy approach in more New York City classrooms (link to article provided below). The article reports that, “during her almost six months as chancellor, Ms. Fariña, a veteran of the school system, has reduced the role of standardized tests, increased collaboration among schools and shepherded through a new contract for teachers that includes more training and more communication with parents. But her push for a revival of balanced literacy may have some of the most far-reaching implications in the classroom.” Proponents of the Common Core academic standards have however, voiced resistance to implementation of a balanced literacy approach, arguing that it is at odds with the learning goals emphasized in the core standards, which have been adopted by more than 40 states. What do you think are the pros and cons of a balanced literacy approach?
Literacy Teaching and Teacher Education 
Thank you for the article. I teach middle school language arts, and I don’t feel that the Common Core moves away from a balanced literacy approach because the Core does not tell me how to introduce and use complex texts with my students. As the professional in my classroom, I decide how to use texts to be most beneficial for my students. Maybe I misunderstand the standards, but I really hope that I don’t.