Here is our ongoing commentary about English language arts education, especially about reading instruction. The topics will include book reviews, op/eds, and other views regarding reading instruction and American education in general. Feel free to browse at your leisure, and use the search window to find posts that match your interest.
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What Makes a Word Phonetic?
Most people don't have a clear understanding of phonics or what makes a word phonetic?
Let's clear up the confusion and make the case for phonics instruction.
SoundEnglish Loves Green Eggs and Ham
SoundEnglish loves Green Eggs and Ham. It's a perfect supplement to 7 Sound Steps to Reading. The table at the right lists each of the 50 distinct words in the book and demonstrates how Green Eggs and Ham is in perfect alignment with our structured phonics program in Step 2--Learn the Sounds. Limited Vocabulary, Mostly...
Bet on Green Eggs and Ham to Teach Reading
Theodor Geisel, better know as Dr. Seuss, wrote his first children’s book in 1937. It was And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street. It would be 23 years before he would write Green Eggs and Ham, and it probably would never have happened without “the bet.” Long before the publication of Green Eggs and Ham,...
The Ugly Truth about Reading Instruction
Sometimes, the truth is “ugly,” meaning unpleasant. Unfortunately, we’re not always receptive to an ugly truth. Acceptance takes time. You know, it takes a while to accept a truth that we wish was a lie. Unfortunately, the longer it takes for us to acknowledge the ugliness, the more damage is done. This is where we...
Get Involved in Your Child’s Education
It’s a new year! And it’s time to bet involved in your child’s education. Sure, we all check report cards, and most of show up for conferences, but that’s not nearly enough. We’ve accepted the notion that decisions about education should be made by “the experts.” That might be a good idea if there actually...
