2019: New Salvos in the Battle for Reading Instruction
Podcast episodes by APM Reports have raised questions about materials for teaching reading that are widely used in American schools. An author of those materials, Lucy Calkins, recently fired back at “phonics-centric people.” Calkins was one of several powerful people and organizations to weigh in on the debate about how to teach reading in the past few weeks.
Senior education correspondent Emily Hanford’s work on the science of reading has helped spark a national conversation. There’s been lively discussion on social media and at education conferences. And many teachers and education officials say they are changing their approach to reading instruction.
However not everyone is happy with the direction things are going.