Opinion: Holding kids back won’t teach them to read – but we can
Shelby Smith places books into summer reading kits on Thursday, May 21, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file)
Mark Conley
Mark Conley is Emeritus Professor in Literacy and Assessment at the University of Memphis. He has advised numerous state departments of education, including Michigan and Tennessee, on literacy standards and assessment. Mark participated in test development and evaluation for the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) and the ACT tests. He has written numerous books about literacy and assessment, including Connecting Standards and Assessment through Literacy (2004).
Contrary to popular belief, punishing kids by holding them back does not necessarily make children work harder or get better.
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