Fixing Our Reading Problem

The statistics are startling. The number of adults and children who read poorly in America today is astoundingly high, see the statistics here. Get the facts for yourself online. Read the statistics at the National Center for Education Statistics (here and here), and read the facts about phonics here and at the National Right to Read Foundation's website (NRRF). Read what research says about phonics and the importance of literacy.

Speak the Truth in Love.

Pro-phonics voices are often very critical of individuals and institutions supporting whole word methods. While it is important to speak out for the truth, we need to speak the truth in love. It is important to know that there are individuals and institutions who have opposed phonics instruction in the past and who may continue to oppose the teaching of phonics.

However, we need to be as it says in Matthew 10:16, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Light candles rather than cursing the darkness. Give reading grade level tests to your children, your grandchildren, and your neighbors' children. Spread the news of 40L's free phonics lessons, the free phonics lessons at starfall.com, numerous free programs at Don Potter's Education Page and the availability of free and inexpensive commercial phonics programs listed on this website and at the NRRF website.

Give everyone you know a reading grade level test and point them to a good phonics program if they need help.

Tutor with phonics.

Bring the phonics concentration game with you everywhere and play it with kids of all ages.

Print out the sight word page and its list of the 220 most commonly taught sight words arranged by their phonetic patterns and give them to every teacher who is teaching sight words and every parent you meet whose child is being taught sight words.