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Becky Grubbs's avatar

Phonics, phonics, phonics! The only guaranteed method that works!

And it MUST be taught in K-1!

Phonics instruction has miraculous results—fluent reading (quite often even above the ability to comprehend), students who love to read and are excited about learning, and an amazing level of self esteem in six and seven year old children.

When first grade retention is necessary, almost always in order for developmental delays to be overcome, almost all students are able to enter second grade as fluent readers who can then concentrate on enjoying reading and developing higher level thinking skills.

I speak from the experience of having the glorious opportunity to use Saxon Phonics for four years in a Title I school in 2000-2004.

As in any job, success depends on having the right tools, practice, love and the will to produce. Our children are more than worth it!

Thank you for these articles. Thank you for saying what needs to be said—and heard.

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June Kessinger's avatar

Teachers have turned the pleasure of reading into the horror of reading. Grade school is for learning to love reading. And the best way to become a good reader is to read. You may answer comprehension questions. After all, reading is comprehension. Have you ever seen the likes of attempting to teach 3rd graders genre, foreshadowing, and other things I never heard of until junior high? How ridiculous!

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