The Cost of Over-Teaching Phonics

The Cost of Over-Teaching Phonics

The tide has turned on reading instruction. Nearly all states have passed “science of reading” laws, and most researchers and educators now agree students need to learn letters and sounds explicitly and systematically to become proficient readers. The Washington Post’s editorial board recently went so far as to proclaim that the reading wars have ended. “The victor is clear: Phonics is the best way to teach kids how to read.” And yet a look insi…