Special Report: Getting Reading Right - Education Week
SPECIAL REPORT: GETTING READING RIGHT
What Teachers and Ed. Professors Know About Early Literacy
Learning to read is arguably the most important academic experience students will have during their school years. But it’s not a given.
The “nation’s report card” shows that just 35 percent of 4th graders are proficient readers. That’s despite decades of cognitive research clarifying exactly which skills students need to be taught to read fluently.
So what’s happening in schools—and in teacher preparation—that’s making it so hard for some students to gain these foundational skills? New data offer some insights. The Education Week Research Center conducted two nationally representative surveys, one of K-2 and special education teachers and one of education professors. The findings, presented throughout this reporting series, tell an illuminating story about what teachers do and don’t know about reading and where they learned it, as well as offer a path forward for improving reading instruction in classrooms throughout the country.
New survey data from Education Week show that most K-2 teachers and education professors are using instructional methods that run counter to the cognitive science.
December 4, 2019 – Education Week
The debate on how to teach early reading has raged for a century. But for the last few decades, the cognitive science has been clear: Teaching young kids how to crack the code—teaching systematic phonics—is the most reliable way to make sure that they learn how to read words.
October 2, 2019 – Education Week
Flawed methods for teaching reading are often passed down through cherished mentors, popular literacy programs, and respected professional groups.
December 4, 2019 – Education Week
At an Ohio elementary school, teachers who once “did their own thing” are now using structured literacy programs—and despite some initial skepticism, they say they’re seeing gains.
December 4, 2019 – Education Week
An analysis of the five most-used programs for early reading shows that they often diverge from evidence-based practices.
December 4, 2019 – Education Week
Many teachers leave preservice training without clarity on what the cognitive science says about how students learn to read.
December 4, 2019 – Education Week
Learning how to decode words is essential to becoming a reader. But research shows that building a strong vocabulary and knowledge-base is crucial as well.
December 4, 2019 – Education Week
Phonics, to some, means tedious worksheets and drills. But many teachers have found ways to enliven their instruction with songs, dances, and games.
December 4, 2019 – Education Week
Special Report: Getting Reading Right - Education Week
