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Monday, May 17, 2021

Russ on Reading: Defeating the Science of Reading Narrative, Part 3: Building Bridges with Colleagues

Russ on Reading: Defeating the Science of Reading Narrative, Part 3: Building Bridges with Colleagues
Defeating the Science of Reading Narrative, Part 3: Building Bridges with Colleagues



Over the past month I have been exploring the Science of Reading (SOR) narrative that has dominated discussion about reading instruction for the last few years in posts here, here, and here. What I have argued is that the SOR narrative is far too narrow a conceptualization of reading instruction and that making it the dominant mode of instruction is dangerous. The prior posts back up that argument with relevant and recent research. Some readers, while sympathetic to my overall message, have complained that my language in these blogs is confrontational and likely to cut off conversation rather than build bridges. 

I admit that I have used words like "defeat", "fight", "overturn", and "combat", in discussing how we must respond to the SOR narrative. That is because this narrative is being foist upon school leaders, teachers, and children through lobbying groups, state legislatures, and school boards that have bought into this narrow view of reading instruction. My language is CONTINUE READING: Russ on Reading: Defeating the Science of Reading Narrative, Part 3: Building Bridges with Colleagues