Let's Talk About Literacy

Language is the foundation of reading Dorsey Hammond clears up the confusion about phonics and phonemic awareness as foundational skills. An important commentary by a distinguished and thoughtful researcher.

A new posting at literacytalk.info is a timely reminder from Dorsey Hammond that language is the key. See "Foundational Skills of Reading: A Brief Commentary" at tinyurl.com/4md3r2e3.

Here's a corrected link for article about invented spelling at LiteracyTalk.info: tinyurl.com/mrx29nsz. Click on "Invented Spelling: What It Is and Why It's Important" at the top of the list to download the article.

New posting at LiteracyTalk.info: Invented Spelling: What It Is and Why It's Important. An excellent practice that's not used as much as it could be. Direct link: tinyurl.com/5h53pn2r

Concerned about mandates for reading instruction that don't align with what you know is effective instruction? We posted some practical advice: tinyurl.com/mvzmrw27

Instruction in decoding is most useful when youngsters learn to function on their own when the teacher isn’t there to help. For some ideas on this, see “Decoding and Reading Independence” at literacytalk.info.

Steven Strauss's informative webinar, "Debunking the Science of Reading Neuroscience Claims" is now available for viewing: gocabe.org/no_on_ab2222/. Thanks, CABE, for hosting. And thanks, Dr. Strauss, for sharing your extensive and relevant knowledge and experience.

Dorsey Hammond takes a close look at the bans that have been mandated against the three cues we use when reading in "Reading Legislation: An Alarming Development" at tinyurl.com/yxdcutud.

How are learning to read and learning to sail analogous? See the "The Girls and Boys in the Boats" at literacytalk.info: tinyurl.com/2smuuh6b

"Imagine if you could move 20% of the struggling readers in your classroom or school to reading proficiency in a matter of a few months...." Go to Practical Tips at literacytalk.info and look for "Addressing the Easier Comprehension Challenges" to find out how.

A great read: Info Drop #3 from the International Literacy Educators Coalition—a summary of the Policy Statement on the Science of Reading from the NEPC and Education Deans Equity and Justice. Download a copy from the home page of literacytalk.info.

Highly recommend Info Drop #3 from the International Literacy Educators Coalition—a summary of the Policy Statement on the Science of Reading from the NEPC and Education Deans Equity and Justice. Download a copy from the home page of literacytalk.info

New posting at literacytalk.info: "When Sounding It Out Isn't Enough." See the Our Perspectives tab. A contribution to the voices of those who understand reading.

@DrMaryHoward @BillyMolasso Yes: "Even districts with the highest literacy achievement are being forced to change direction..." I hope the inevitable decline in those districts will be well documented.

Such an important read! "So what’s next? We already know, because history has already told us: The prioritization and over-prescription of phonics will eventually be found – again —to produce better test-takers but worse readers..." @BillyMolasso readingrecovery.org/ohio-releases-…

Newly posted by Dorsey Hammond at literacytalk.info: If Children Guess at Words When Learning to Read, What Should We Do About It? See the OUR PERSPECTIVES section.

Highly recommend @regieroutman's new book, The Heart-Centered Teacher. The reflections and personal stories are a delight. The advice based on her teaching experience is sound. Words to savor from this experienced, wise professional: tinyurl.com/59yjrfm5

Balanced literacy should be the basis for common ground. See our recent thoughts on this here: literacytalk.info/_files/ugd/aa6…. And more at literacytalk.info

Yes, all too familiar! Good to see Valerie Strauss sharing the views of three experienced, knowledgeable experts who make many excellent points, e.g., "no convincing evidence of a reading crisis and none that points to phonics as the single cause or solution."

Here's a direct link to the page with "Is Learning to Read Unnatural?"--a new posting at the Literacy Talk site: literacytalk.info/our-perspectiv….

Is learning to read unnatural? See what Dorsey Hammond has to say at literacytalk.info. See the posting within "Our Perspectives on Key Issues."