‘ Knowledge of reading’ motion gains steam nationwide ,
Democrat Governor of New York A 2025 budget, which includes funding courses to teach phonics education to future teachers in the country’s public universities, was just shepherded by Kathy Hochul.
A Latino California Democratic state member, Rep. Blanca Rubio, worked over the past time to improve a costs, AB 2222, to demand phonics training for future teachers as part of higher learning accreditation programs.
A phonics-based checking coaching strategy is required by a law passed in Georgia in 2023.
These examples demonstrate that, in the eyes of knowledge professional Lance Izumi, several leaders, including those in deep blue states, desire to return to the practiced phonics instruction, then known as the “science of reading” view, after decades of American students struggling to learn how to read full language and context clues.
According to him, the knowledge of reading concentrates on phonics, diction, and comprehension lessons, and it is supported by research, studies, and evidence that it is the best way to teach young people how to learn.
Izumi told The College Fix in a phone appointment on Wednesday that” there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Izumi is senior director of the Center for Education at the Pacific Research Institute and author of” The Great Classroom Collapse: Teachers, Students, and Parents Expose the Collapse of Learning in America’s Schools”, published this summer.
Ed Week just reported that the” ‘ knowledge of reading’ activity is sweeping through state legislature”, adding over the last decade, “39 state and the District of Columbia have passed laws or implemented new guidelines related to evidence-based reading training”.
In his book, Izumi’s book describes the uphill task that lawmakers must overcome: a report from the National Council on Teacher Quality from 2023 found that 75 % of the college teacher preparation programs polled failed to address the “science of reading” components.
The NCTQ’s finding that four out of ten teacher preparation programs are still teaching multiple practices, contrary to long-standing research, can undermine the effects of scientifically based reading instruction, is equally alarming.
But the wave of policies pushing “science of reading” programs in both K-12 classrooms and schools of education is promising, although it’s like turning the Titanic, Izumi said.
He said,” Maybe we can turn the Titanic in time, at least for the kids who are already in the system,” adding that it is too late for the entire “lost generation of kids” to be taught using the failed method.
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According to Izumi’s book, which combines data with personal anecdotes from professors and teachers who have struggled with teaching children using unproven methods, “many of the practices that are contrary to scientific evidence are instructional methods such as balanced literacy, the three-cueing system, readers ‘ workshop, and leveled texts.”
He called the turning tide an “awakening”, but cautions the damage is done. Professors, for example, have dumbed down their classrooms and reduced reading and homework loads, he said.
Is the turning of the educational system going to be in time, or will we still sink because of that glancing blow, he said,” Given we have this lost generation of kids that have gone through the education system.”
” At least for some time, even under the best of circumstances, we are going to have to deal with an underprepared workforce”.
MORE: What today’s young people need to thrive–tough standards with encouragement: psychology professor
IMAGE: Kathy Hochul YouTube page
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