Putting on Your Underwear First: Why Instructional Sequence Doesn’t Always Matter Teacher’s Question: Is there a particular order in which teachers should teach the letter sounds? Shanahan’s response: It makes sense to put your underwear on before you put on a skirt, shirt, blouse, or pants. Unless you’re Madonna. Then the usual ordering of things doesn’t necessarily get the job done. Madonna changed the sequence from bra/blouse to blouse/bra and became a star. (That she is wildly talented may have also had something to do with that). Many teachers, principals, parents, and policymakers expect the proper ordering of letters and letter sounds in a curriculum to ...
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