Frequently Asked Questions
With Augusta Mann

QUESTION: What is it that drives your passion for your work?

ANSWER: I began developing teaching strategies and approaches many years ago when I was a new classroom teacher. I was failing to teach my low income students to any degree of excellence. I was determined to be a significant force in their lives and so I studied and reflected then created and experimented with various methods and strategies until I succeeded with my students. Now I know that the terrible statistics of the large numbers of children whom we are failing to educate is as I say on the videotape, “a problem that need not be”.


QUESTION: How does the Intensified Accelerated (IA) phonics program differ from other phonics programs?

ANSWER: Because the Intensified Accelerated programs are designed to accelerate students who are behind, its phonics component features a holistic approach. Many phonics programs are linear. They begin with the “short” vowels and add consonants to make three and four letter words. In the IA program, students quickly learn the word analysis skills needed to decode large numbers of words of various lengths and subjects.


QUESTION: In your workshops you have said to “speed up the pace for low performing students instead of slow it down”. Can you explain this?

ANSWER: Because rhythm is such a dominant cultural theme in African American and many cultures outside the European group, the usual slowness of lessons in traditional curricula for low performing students does not capture the rhythm that “touches the spirit” and excite intellectual curiosity. When you speed up the presentation and communication, you utilize the rhythm and the dynamic aliveness of the culture and thus make more meaningful connections to the students.

FAQ - Pre-School