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To me this @markseidenberg quote hit the nail on the head : “I saw this post where somebody said ‘Reading wars are over, science of reading won,’” ….“…But actually, nobody has won until we’ve actually seen we’ve improved literacy outcomes.” 2/8
The article and quote sound the right note. Reading is an urgent crisis. Good laws & regs have an important place & are necessary, but are merely a precondition. There’s no substitute for the hard work of implementing best practices in every district, school and classroom 3/8
The opposition is mounting & getting more strident. I see 3 causes. Pride - established experts never want to be wrong. Money - nobody gives up their share of billions at stake without a fight. Inertia - without a push, bureaucracies and special interests can’t move 4/8
One way to look at today’s @nytimes article is that it’s good news about inertia. Newton’s 1st law says the object (reading proficiency) will only move if compelled by an external force. The story highlights a lot of solid work by a lot of external forces. 5/8
For an example of the pride of experts, look for a recent attack on #SoR based professional development in Tennessee - in which the authors denied a reading crisis exists. A shameful political hit piece by guardians of the status quo, dressed up as serious academic work. 6/8
It helps if you understand that every time a critic claims #SoR is all phonics, you are looking at a straw argument.
Any reasonably well informed advocate understands that reading instruction is a complex, multi-faceted process. 7/8
Any reasonably well informed advocate understands that reading instruction is a complex, multi-faceted process. 7/8
Putting aside the oppositional rhetoric, what are we asking for? One of the best visualizations of what works is called Scarborough’s Rope. Good literacy policy and implementation will support well prepared teachers with good materials to weave all the strands together. 8/8
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