Bush Adviser Casts Doubt on the Benefits of Phonics Program

The New York Times ^ | January 24, 2003 | By ABBY GOODNOUGH

[KC_Conspirator]

Pardon me, but it was my understanding that the government schools turned away from phonics some years back for some unproven, liberal alternative and it was collossal failure with huge illiteracy rates. At least with phonics kids can learn to speak/spell out words. Someone tell me what the deal is? Maybe someone with a better understanding of education than myself?

[InspiredPath1]

How about that for a skewed headline.

"Bush Adviser Casts Doubt on the Benefits of Phonics Program"

It is ONLY this particular program that is in question, not phonics in general.

[InspiredPath1]

Apparently there are established phonics programs which have been tested and proven effective. This program being instituted by New York apparently has NOT been tested and the administration questions it's validity.

[homeschool mama]

You're right in that phonics was tossed out for whole language. Some areas in the USA have brought in a 1/2 and 1/2 of phonics/wl.

The public school kindergarten classroom I visited 8 years ago used whole language...what a joke, imo.

I also visited a private school using phonics...guess where my daughter attended kindergarten?

About 5 years ago on a 60 minutes type show, the level of success was documented contrasting phonics and whole language. Phonics won out big time.

[homeschool mama]

In our area there is a phonics program named Zoofonics. 1/2 whole language and 1/2 phonics. The reading rates of elementary students in my area are depressing.

[gov_bean_ counter]

The adviser, G. Reid Lyon, a researcher at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said there is no scientific evidence that the curriculum, called Month by Month Phonics, is effective with students who struggle academically.

Phonics instruction involves practicing the sounds that build words and matching them with letters. There is a longstanding and bitter debate over whether phonics instruction has more proven results than "whole language" teaching, which relies on stories to capture children's interest in reading and uses phonics secondarily. The program that Mr. Klein has in mind — Month by Month Phonics combined with using books — treads a cautious line between the two methods.

These two paragraphs pretty clearly define the problem. While the "whole language" approach is flawed at best for good students, as a parent of a one time special ed child, I can state without reservation, it is an unmitigated disaster for children with learning challenges.

[KC_Conspirator]

Yes, "whole language". That is the failed program I was referring too. Did'nt this untested and unproven method originate in Sweden or something?

[ladylib]

Whole language has proved to be a crock, just like "invented" spelling. The teachers who have been trained to use whole language in ed schools aren't going to give up easily, however. They aren't "hooked on phonics."

People wonder why kids hate to read and why they act up in class. It's because a lot of these destructive reading and math programs frustrate them.

[RAT Patrol]

Good thinkers are free thinkers and less easy to manipulate.

I am sorry but teaching reading is easy if you use the phonics method. Even when whole language is successful it doesn't prepare a kid for new words. I taught my kid to recognize the alphabet by the time he was 16 months old. We went right into phonics after that. Little bitty kids are capable of doing it, pre preschool even. Every parent should teach their kid how to read BEFORE kindergarten, imo. Then the schools can't mess 'em up.

And all the "readers" I've seen are BORING!!! My kid loves to read precisely because I never bored him with readers. There is a mountain of fantastic children's literature out there. No one should ever need stupid readers that ask stupid questions that supposedly get the child to "think." Kids brains are amazing little sponges and they all have a tremendous, natural love for life and learning. Give them quality material, present it in a logical manner, and success is easy. Bore or defeat them early and you may never capture their attention again. They will learn. The question is what will they learn?

[MarketR]

You know, this hits close to home.

I have one son who is a remarkable reader, way ahead if his peers. My other, struggles everyday with reading. Both went through the same program...and it was phonics based.

After years of dealing with this exact issue, I think I can speak from a base of experience.

Phonics works with a majority of the kids in school. That is why it's utilized in the public school system. They have to produce the most benefit for each class. The problem comes with thosae who struggle with phonics....I call them "sight readers".

Some children, my son included, don't have brains which are wired to "assemble" words from their phonic pieces. They need to "recognise" each word as a whole and its meaning. In other words, the old memorization method. So we work on vocabulary memorization. A slower method, but working.

I don't know what the answer is for the public schools. They need to benefit the most kids with their programs, but the programs designed for kids who have trouble reading, are sorely lacking.

Oh, I should also say that the school district my kids attend is the top rated district in the state. It's just a function of how to benefit the maximum number of kids with the resources provided.

[widowithfoursons]

They could just purchase "Hooked On Phonics" at about $150 a crack (and think of the discount if they paid to be able to copywrite! or bulk purchase!) Takes all the effort of turning on a cassette, and monitoring progress. Even a brain dead NEA retread could do it. And the good news is that the teacher would barely have to say a word. Hey, she might even learn to read herself!!!

[homeschool mama]

I'm not sure of where it originated but it sure failed soooo many students in America's govt schools.

[homeschool mama]

BUMP!

[homeschool mama]

Traditional classrooms only offer the 'cookie cutter' approach to learning.

[B Knotts]

How about that for a skewed headline.

I noticed that too. Typical New York Times misinformation.

[homeschool mama]

Ha! There ya go!

[zx2dragon]

I'm not an education expert, but I can go by on what I have experienced.

I was taught by my mother and then school the phonics method. In school we had to wear these huge headphones and listen to the lesson plan and then follow along. 6 of us could go through the short lesson at a time.

By the time I hit the third grade I was reading at college level and writing at a high school senior level.

My younger sister was taught that whole language crap and suffered for it.

[mommadooo3]

We use Samuel L. Blumenfeld's 'How To Tutor'. And use 'workbooks' to supplement.

Our 15 y.o. reads at MY age level.(really, really old.) Our 8 y.o reads ABOVE her 5th grade sister's level. And the 5th grader is 'slow' because she has the mindset that if she doesn't think she has it 'right' she isn't gonna say/do something to 'prove' it. LOL! Our twins (7 y.o.) are something quite 'unique'. Quite the 'bang-your-head-against-the-wall' experience. I'm told it's normal since twins are so 'wrapped up tight' with each other.

[OldFriend]

Anything dreamt up by the good for nothing Klein deserves to be criticized. His claim to fame is trying to destroy Microsoft, how this makes him qualified to build a successful school system is beyond me.