Opinion
Special Education Letter to the Editor

There Is No ‘Reading War’

October 08, 2019 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

Education Week is a venue for the expression of opinions, such as Ms. Hood’s, a “literacy expert,” in the Opinion essay of Sept. 11, 2019 (“What the New Reading Wars Get Wrong”). She urges readers to clarify the term “reading” and points to a “war.”

“Reading wars” is artificial. There is no “war.” There is disagreement on the entry point of formal instruction: decoding or experiencing text content. The National Reading Panel indicates the importance of all areas of reading instruction, especially phonics for those with learning challenges.

Understanding what comprises “reading” and how to teach an individual “to read” is clear to those who work with students diagnosed with dyslexia. Effective teachers begin with phonics, leading to the skill set of decoding with fluency. This does not negate instruction in all aspects of reading comprehension. Engaging a student’s interest and imagination in text content is crucial.

However, if this student cannot independently sound out letters seen, then he or she will not comprehend meaning. Not everyone requires phonics instruction. For those not easily and automatically picking up on the code of language, the “Alphabetic Principle” is paramount. Students establish the linkage between the letter seen with its sound(s)—decoding—and the sound heard with its letter(s)—spelling.

Any “language literacy” teacher or educational therapist knows that those with dyslexia do not efficiently “guess” at letter-sound patterns; Ms. Hood’s assertion about “guessing” at word patterns does not hold up.

How a teacher teaches is another variable, especially for those with dyslexia. Covering phonics is not enough. Effective teachers incorporate the Orton-Gillingham philosophy, a sequential, explicit, multi-sensory, interactive, and mastery approach embedded in several commercial programs.

Let us embrace all aspects of language instruction, regardless of entry point, focusing on those we serve—all those who strive to make meaning from print.

Arlene Harris

Educational Therapist, Educational Consultant

New York, N.Y.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the October 09, 2019 edition of Education Week as There Is No ‘Reading War’

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
How to Leverage Virtual Learning: Preparing Students for the Future
Hear from an expert panel how best to leverage virtual learning in your district to achieve your goals.
Content provided by Class
English-Language Learners Webinar AI and English Learners: What Teachers Need to Know
Explore the role of AI in multilingual education and its potential limitations.
Education Webinar The K-12 Leader: Data and Insights Every Marketer Needs to Know
Which topics are capturing the attention of district and school leaders? Discover how to align your content with the topics your target audience cares about most. 

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Special Education Letter to the Editor Schools Must Do Better to Meet IDEA Requirements
More states must follow through on this law.
1 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Special Education Test Your Knowledge: How Does Universal Screening for Dyslexia in Schools Work?
Take our quiz to gauge your knowledge of the language processing disorder—and find links to further reading.
1 min read
 Conceptual image of wooden alphabet tiles scattered across blue metallic surface.
iStock/Getty
Special Education Letter to the Editor Reevaluating My Language Around Disability
A recent opinion essay encouraged this teacher to unpack her approach to labeling students with specific disability classifications.
1 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Special Education Can AI Write a Good IEP? What Special Education Experts Say
AI tools could ease paperwork burdens and offer new supports for students—but privacy and efficacy concerns are real.
3 min read
Image of a plan with a goal, with a digital texture.
Collage via iStock/Gettty