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Whole Language vs. Phonics
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Thorndike's Teacher's Word Book published
Read Original (scanned) Text Created to assist teachers with word and reading instruction -
Phonics used, but not introduced until 3rd grade
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New Ideas in Reading Education
Recognized benefit to silent reading -
Dick and Jane Readers
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Shifts in Traditional Thinking
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Expanding knowledge & technological revolution in America
Americans realized that to keep up with the world they had to add to their knowledge and read well. -
Rudolf Flesch writes, "Why Johnny Can't Read: and what you can do about it"
Rudolf Flesch writes this book which describes teaching reading using a phonics approach He calls it, "...a code, which consists of fewer than 200 letters and letter groups, each standing for one or more of the 44 sounds in English. Once a child has learned this code, he can read" (Flesch, 1955). -
Renewed interest in reading disabilities
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Soviets launch Sputnik 1
This caused a flurry of research activity in the United States and experts began to work harder to find new methods for preparing new materials that they hoped would produce faster and better results in learning to read -
Traxler criticized standardized tests
Traxler (1958) voiced concern that standardized tests misrepresented students’ abilities. -
Kenneth Goodman research
-Observed the reading process in active use
-Stressed importance of silent reading practice -
The debate continues
--more of the selections were adaptations of children’s literature rather than stories written to conform to a vocabulary restriction or a readability formula -
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New topics concerning reading education
-Psychologists became interested in reading
-Research and several famous studies conducted on reading education and the science of learning to read -
Whole Language Movement Officially Begins
-emphasizes focus on meaning and strategy instruction
-phonics instruction deemed boring and uninspiring for students
-teachers acted as facilitators; observing and customizing what students needed -
Nomenclature changes
The debate continues and there is a shift from a phonics versus look-say conflict to a phonics versus whole language debate -
Arthur Heilman, "Phonics in Proper Perspective"
-Used as a toolkit for teaching phonics in an early childhood classroom today. -
Becoming a Nation of Readers
Becoming a Nation of Readers report-Researchers encouraged to employ multidisciplinary approaches to instruction, and to extend inquiry beyond decoding and early literacy instruction -
Dr. Marilyn J. Adams, "Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print"
-The Department of Education asked Adams to evaluate beginning reading programs for effectiveness
-Adams argues that both phonics and whole language advocates are BOTH right! -
National Reading Panel (NRP)
National Reading Panel-Formed at the request of Congress in an effort to assess the effectiveness of different reading approaches -
No Child Left Behind Act
-Standards-based education reform -
Reading First Program (NCLB)
--Teachers' decisions about instruction driven by scientifically-based reading research
