This is an amazing podcast by (when pigs fly), the New York Times. The multi-decade experiment to drop phonics while teaching children to read is now recognized as a massive failure and has caused tremendous damage. The flashpoint for "Balanced Literacy" was Lucy Calkins.
During the last few years, states have recognized this huge mistake and have reverted back to using phonics resulting in dramatic improvement. Noted in the podcast as examples, the state of Mississippi and Washington D.C.
The most impressive discussion in the podcast is about MRI research performed that showed a direct correlation between parts of the brain related to speech and audio comprehension mapping directly with phonics-based learning. Minutes 17 and 18 discuss the MRI evidence, which I think is the most important section. Calkins dismissed this evidence because, "those researchers never spent time in the classroom." (elite arrogance)
Oh, the section that discusses how phonics was used instead of the progressive method to teach children with dyslexia, in which case they dramatically improved was also powerful.
How many decades will it take to unwind this damage? How many adults were negatively impacted and are now living less than productive lives because of this run-amuck theory?
One woman (Lucy Calkins) started this entire fad of, "Balanced Literacy" and one man, Michale Bloomberg, while mayor of NYC mandated its use in the largest school district in the US (1 million students). And of course, the endorsement of NYC spread nationwide and influenced the progressive method to 10s of millions of children. BTW, I'm still trying to wrap my mind around how Bloomberg, as a mayor, was able to mandate policy practiced by the school district. Does a mayor have that authority?
Parents for the last several decades have said this was nonsense and bad practice. How much longer until Common Core is similarly outed? PLEASE share this with family and friends and ask them to also pass it along.
New York Times Audio: The Fight Over PhonicsParents for the last several decades have said this was nonsense and bad practice. How much longer until Common Core is similarly outed? PLEASE share this with family and friends and ask them to also pass it along.
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I’m continually amazed at the foresight the destroyers had in their action plan to dumb down the population and ruin once-great countries. I don’t believe it’s an accident that one bad theory could become so well-embraced by schools. If we regard schools as one of the sources of critical thinking instruction and practice, we can see how essential it is that these qualities be destroyed or diminished in the citizens. It makes us more willing to be governed by the stupid and those who mean us harm. If a population can’t read, write, or think critically, they’re easier to dominate and control. I see this as proof of their plan, rather than an unfortunate bad idea that caught on. I have a grudging admiration for the patience and foresight of TPTB, though I still want to run every one of them over with a tank.