The Failure of Balanced Literacy

The latest episode of the Better Learning Podcast, hosted by Kevin Stoller, dives deep into the science of reading and the transformative shift in teaching methods. The conversation revolves around the history of reading instruction, highlighting the pitfalls of the balanced literacy approach and the crucial role of phonics and decoding skills.

A significant theme in this episode is the need for urgent change in literacy instruction, driven by solid evidence and the success of structured literacy approaches. The discussion also touches on the hurdles educators face when implementing new methods, often met with resistance from established systems and publishing companies.

 

Takeaways

1. The dominant teaching method of balanced literacy has not been effective in teaching children to read.

2. Phonics and decoding skills are crucial for reading success.

3. Implementing change in the education system can be challenging due to various factors, including financial interests and resistance to change.

4. Open and compassionate discussions are essential for moving the field of literacy forward. The shift from balanced literacy to structured literacy has been driven by the need for evidence-based practices and improved student outcomes.

5. Professional development is crucial for teachers to effectively implement structured literacy instruction.

6. Parents play a vital role in advocating for their children's literacy education and should trust their instincts if they feel something is not right.

7. There is a need for urgency in improving literacy instruction and trying new approaches to meet the needs of all students.

 

Faith Borkowsky, the founder of High Five Literacy, LLC, is an internationally respected and sought-after literacy consultant, certified dyslexia practitioner, and award-winning author and speaker. She has over thirty-five years of experience in literacy instruction - as a classroom teacher, reading and learning specialist, regional literacy coach, administrator, and private tutor.

Judy Boksner has over 25 years of New York City Education experience as an educator, classroom teacher, coach, and reading specialist. Judy works with teachers and children all throughout areas in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Greenwich Ct. She has extensive training in evidence-based methodologies such as Orton Gillingham, Wilson’s Fundations, and The Hochman Method, also known as The Writing Revolution.

 

 

Sound Bites to Ponder:

 

"We got it wrong in a lot of ways."

"Good readers could read words in isolation."

"It was a curriculum disability rather than a learning disability."

"A lot of kids weren't making the progress that they needed, even with one-on-one instruction."

"The easy conversations where everybody's in a silo talking about the same thing, agreeing with each other every single time saying, yeah, you're right, you're right. Those aren't the kind of conversations that are actually going to shift the needle."

"When you are teaching in those upper grades, you just can't understand why kids are coming up to you not reading."

 

 

Follow on Faith Borkowsky on Social Media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faithborkowsky/

 

Follow on Judy Boksner on Social Media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-boksner-478b5118/

 

 

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/.

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

 

 

Episode 190 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

 

 

For more information on our partners:

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/