Research: Why So Many Kids Struggle to Learn to Read

What Research Tells Us About Reading Instruction – Association for Psychological Science

Parents, educators, reading researchers, and policy makers all agree that children must learn to read to participate fully in a modern society. They agree, moreover, that much of this learning will take place in school. Beyond this, agreement breaks down. There have been many debates about how children should learn to read; those between proponents of phonics instruction and proponents of whole-language instruction have sometimes been so heated that they have been called the “reading wars.” What can psychological science tell us about the issues? This is the question that Castles, Rastle, and Nation (2018) set out to answer in their article. They provide a wide-ranging review of how reading develops, from beginners to experts, and consider the implications of the research for how reading should be taught. Read the article.

The Straw Man in the New Round of the Reading Wars – The Washington Post

What are the “reading wars?”    Read the article.

Beyond the ‘Reading Wars’: How the science of reading can improve literacy – Science Daily

A new scientific report from psychological researchers aims to resolve the so-called ‘reading wars,’ emphasizing the importance of teaching phonics in establishing fundamental reading skills in early childhood. The report shows how early phonics skills are advanced with a rich reading curriculum throughout the school years.  Read the article.

Hard Words: Why Aren’t Kids Being Taught to Read? – American Public Media Reports

Scientific research has shown how children learn to read and how they should be taught. But many educators don’t know the science and, in some cases, actively resist it. As a result, millions of kids are being set up to fail.  Read the article.

Reading: Breaking Through the Barriers – BC Parent Advisory Committee

Reading is a fundamental skill for children and adults alike. Like speech itself, it is the key to knowledge and opens up worlds. But 48% of Canadian adults cannot read well enough to cope in modern society, and 25% of English speaking kindergarten students are at risk for failing to learn to read.  Read the article.