Posts

Here is our ongoing commentary about English language arts education, especially about reading instruction. We will, from time to time, express an opinion, highlight a concern, or ask a question about reading instruction in the U.S. Feel free to browse at your leisure, and use the search window to find posts that match your interest.

alt="this line graph shows the growth in a child's vocabulary from zero to age three based on socioeconomic status"

30 million words

I am convinced that facility with language is the key to reading, and, ultimately, to learning. It seems obvious. What […]
June 28, 2020
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alt="this is a picture of the preamble of the Constitution."

#4 We Are Failing Our Children in Civic Responsibility

Since the start of the new year, I have focused on the ways in which we are failing our children […]
February 21, 2020
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alt="this graphic lists 20 purposes of teaching; teaching read, writing, and math is last on the list"

#3 We Are Failing Our Children in Achievement

When we look at the test results of national standardized tests, it’s obvious that we are failing our children in […]
February 7, 2020
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alt="this table shows the the progress of 4th graders on the NAEP reading test, based on race, from 1992 to 2019"

#2–We Are Failing Our Children in English Education

We are failing our children in English education. This limits their command of the language, their communication skills, and their […]
January 24, 2020
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#1 We Are Failing Our Children in Reading

It’s a new year–a new decade, in fact! It’s time for renewing optimism and realigning priorities. One of those priorities […]
January 10, 2020
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