Why You Should Implement a Phonics Program in Your Classical Classroom
Perhaps the biggest debate in the science of reading development is Phonics: yay or nay?
Spoiler alert: the research has shown pretty consistently that phonics and corresponding phonemic awareness works!
So, why aren't all schools implementing phonics into their curriculum?
The recent viral podcast Sold a Story shed some light on this. In the 1990s, researchers at top-notch Johns Hopkins University found that many aspects of phonics are highly advantageous for developing readers. The research was so compelling that President George W. Bush hired a JHU professor as his Secretary of Education to spread the word.
... And teachers across the country lost their ever-loving minds.
Even teachers who were using a phonological approach abandoned ship because it just so happened to be a Republican president telling them that that was valid.
They instead switched to (or, in some cases, clung to) the "whole language" approach to reading instruction, which basically taught kids to memorize texts and not worry about the phonological aspects of it. Fast forward today, and we have most certainly seen the damage.
Many public school districts are correcting course but, unfortunately, the whole-language approach still permeates some public, private and even classical schools.
So, what can you do implement phonics instruction in your classroom for the upcoming school year? It does not have to be complicated but it can make a huge difference, even if your school does not use a formal program!
Assess
Use a short, 1:1 informal assessment (I personally love the super-simple PAST for grades K-2 as well as the ESI. It's also important to ensure that students can identify all their letters and sounds). There are plenty of recommendations I have for older grades--just email me and I'll share! Phonics instruction is still very important for many students in older grades.
Group
Create phonics groups of 3-6 students on similar levels.
Instruct
Fill in holes in your students' phonological (written) awareness in small group instruction. If the issues lie largely in phonemic (sounds) awareness, much of what you'll do with them will be verbal. Meet with your lower groups more frequently than your higher groups.
Create
So your students have something to do while you're working with other students in small groups, create sand trays, tracing activities, sorting activities and writing exercises. You can also gather books for students to read that are a good challenge level.
Be Gentle With Yourself
Know that creating a classroom phonics program often takes years to "get right." While it's possible, it's unlikely that you'll have it perfect the first year of implementation. Take notes on what you can tweak in future years and always be willing to ask for help!
This is a very hot topic so stay tuned for more information on the importance of phonics instruction!
