Where Do You Stand on the Science of Reading? by Robert Hankes

What do we have here? A scientific-based how-to formula on how to teach reading so that all students will read at grade level? Or is this another gimmick to sell the next iteration of reading curricula and textbooks based on as much opinion as it is science? Or is it a push from conservatives to travel back to a time that never existed in America when phonics cured all ills and taught everyone, supposedly, how to read?

While I taught English at the high school level, there was a never-ending string of “new approaches” that would fix all the problems the secondary ELA teacher ever faced. For instance, we had in-services on the John Collins way of teaching writing in the 1990s, the 2000s, the 2010s, and I understand the district is requiring John Collins writing orientation for the teachers here in the 2020s. In the 1990s, I didn’t believe that what was old could be repackaged and served up as new again—until Learning Focused Schools in-services touted the usefulness of the Frayer.

You can find plenty of articles that say the Science of Reading is the way to teach reading, that the entire United States should switch over to this program immediately, and shame on those who don’t. Here are three articles that offer a more skeptical view.

“Unsettling the Science of Reading: Who is Being Sold a Story?” Nick Covington / Human Restoration Project. November 30, 2022. https://www.humanrestorationproject.org/writing/who-is-being-sold-a-story-unsettling-the-science-of-reading Some incredible numbers here. Millions spent on new reading programs. Thousands of students affected. And yet, the Science of reading may not be more effective than what we were already doing? And people don’t realize there’s a difference between reading and literacy?

“What People Are Getting Wrong About the Science of Reading.” By Brooke Wilkins & Lauren McNamara — July 07, 2023. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-what-people-are-getting-wrong-about-the-science-of-reading/2023/07 It seems like there is something wrong with America when it comes to looking at the gray area. We’re either black or white, on all issues. This article calls for, and it’s in bold, balance. In the 1960s and 1970s, when I was taught to read, the best ELA teachers instinctively used balance. They are why I read and understand these articles about The Reading Wars now. So only textbook manufacturers believe that there’s such a thing as The Science of Reading?

“PROOF POINTS: Controversies Within the Science of Reading.” Jill Barshay / The Heckinger Report. February 26, 2024. https://hechingerreport.org/proof-points-controversies-within-the-science-of-reading/ Looks like more study is needed on how people learn to read. If that’s true, why couldn’t someone stop the Science of Reading from steamrolling over elementary schools in the United States? On the other hand, based on the studies in this article, it looks like there is plenty of evidence to show that phonemic awareness is not the best lesson to be teaching young readers. How can governments and textbook companies justify the vast outlay of money, knowing that the way they suggest teaching children isn’t scientifically proven to be the best way?

What do you think of all this? Comments below appreciated.