Dick and Jane Learn Rocket Science : Dick and Jane Learn Rocket Science Trudy Stegelman, MS
Learning Disabilities Specialist
Center for Learning Disorders
Topeka, Kansas
Fellow, Orton-Gillingham Academy of Educators and Practitioners
American Reading Instruction : American Reading Instruction Nila Banton Smith
Silver, Burdett and Company
1934, 1962, 1965
Slide3 : “At any given time, and particularly during a period of transition in teaching practices as we are now passing through, it is not uncommon to find within a single school different teachers whose procedures exemplify the outstanding characteristics of several of the more recent movements. Furthermore, one teacher may be using some of the techniques and materials associated with three of four different movements. In either case it is advantageous that the teacher know about these movements and that she understand the one toward which she is primarily tending.”
Nila Banton Smith, 1965
Emphasis of Reading Instruction in America : Emphasis of Reading Instruction in America Before 1776 Religion
1776-1820 Nationalism
1820-1880 Intelligent citizenship
1880-1910 Reading as a cultural asset
1910-1925 Science and quantification
1925-1935 Research and application
1935-1965 International competition
1965 – Present Reading Competency
Aaron, P. and Joshi, R. (1992) The History of Reading Instruction and Reading Disability Research in America. Reading Problems: Consultation and Remediation. New York: Guilford Press, 28-54.
Before 1776 Religion : Before 1776 Religion
Purpose: To learn to read the Bible
Method: Alphabetic method
Reciting letter names and syllables
Learn by spelling words aloud
Materials: Hornbook
Primers, Spelling books
Scripture, Catechism
The New England Primer, 1690
1776-1820: Nationalism : 1776-1820: Nationalism Purpose: To stir patriotic fervor, promote nationalism
Method: Essentially the same as earlier; spelling and memorization of letter names
Materials: Noah Webster 1783-1807
American Spelling Book, a treatise on grammar, history and geography of the US
First books on pronunciation and enunciation
1820-1880: Intelligent Citizenship : 1820-1880: Intelligent Citizenship Purpose: Gaining general knowledge becoming a good citizen
Methods: Beginning of “Reading Wars”
Horace Mann – Look and Say
Francis Parker – Meaning Approach
Materials: McGuffey readers
Published from 1836-1907
Graded readers, drill and limited vocabulary in earlier readers, later readers emphasized literature
Forerunner of modern-day basal readers
The Sentence Method of Teaching Reading 1881 : The Sentence Method of Teaching Reading 1881
George Farnham, Superintendant of Schools, New York
“never pay attention to letters”
The teacher repeats the story until the children are familiar with it.
Written story is presented, each sentence is analyzed into words.
“The pupils should develop the ability to look directly through the written expression to the meaning.”
1880-1910 : Reading as a Cultural Asset : 1880-1910 : Reading as a Cultural Asset Purpose: Culture, literature
Methods: Emphasis on meaning; whole-word and sentence methods
Professional books on reading first produced
Materials: McGuffey readers
Literature-based reading Adapted alphabets The Shearer System, 1894
Initial Teaching Alphabet (ita)
Scientific Alphabet, 1902
1910-1935: Assessment and Research : 1910-1935: Assessment and Research Purpose: To provide more scientific information
To determine why so many individuals were not learning
to read well
Methods: “Remedial reading”
First used by Uhl in 1916
Materials: Test development
In spite of the popularity of the meaning-based methods of teaching beginning reading during the 1920’s and 1930’s, authors of basal readers made provisions in the textbooks for the teaching of phonics. : In spite of the popularity of the meaning-based methods of teaching beginning reading during the 1920’s and 1930’s, authors of basal readers made provisions in the textbooks for the teaching of phonics. For about 3 decades, starting with the late 1920’s, the whole word method and controlled vocabulary predominated.
Aaron & Joshi (1991)
1935-1965: International Competition : 1935-1965: International Competition Purpose: Need for a educated populace
WWII and Sputnik
Soldiers and college students deficient
Methods: Mostly whole word, some analytic (workbook) phonics
Materials: Basal readers
Used by 90% of the schools
8 or 9 Publishing companies
Slide13 :
“It would seem, at our present state of knowledge, that a code emphasis—one that combines control of words in spelling regularly, some direct teaching of letter-sound correspondences, as well as the use of writing, tracing or typing– produces better results with unselected groups of beginners than a meaning emphasis.”
Jean Chall (1967) Learning to Read: The Great Debate. (p. 178-179)
1965 – Present: Reading Competency : 1965 – Present: Reading Competency Purpose: Intense concern over reading competency
Methods: 1960’s and 1970’s – phonics
Materials: Basal readers, supplemental materials
Methods: 1980’s and 1990’s - “whole language”
Materials: Literature-based curriculum
Reading Research : Reading Research
Between 1884-1910 34 studies (Smith)
Before 1966 15,000 studies
(National Reading Panel report)
After 1966-present Approximately
100,000 studies
(National Reading Panel report)
Current Teacher Training : Current Teacher Training “Most teachers of the primary grades take one course in the teaching of reading. Some take two, so that the average is about 1.3 courses per teacher.”
Goodlad, 1997
From: Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children, National Research Council, 1998
Teaching reading is rocket science! What do teachers need to know? : Teaching reading is rocket science! What do teachers need to know? The Psychology of Reading and Reading Development
Knowledge of Language Structure and Its Applications
Practical Skills of Instruction in a Comprehensive Reading Program
Assessment of Classroom Reading and Writing Skills
Moats, L. (1999) Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science: What Expert Teachers of Reading Should Know and Be Able to Do, American Federation of Teachers.
Slide18 :
"I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work."
Thomas Alva Edison