Folks have been debating how to teach reading at least since 1985. At that time, the issue was framed as top-down vs. bottom-up.
This makes the debate seem “tidy,” just two sides with clear delineation. You were FOR phonics (bottom up) or you were FOR textual understanding (top down), but you couldn’t be for both. In truth, there were no teachers then or now who don’t value both, who don’t tailor their teaching to the instructional moment of their students, individually and collectively.
Well, we’re at the reading wars again, but the slogan now is “the science of reading” and all the educational reformers are hopping on the bandwagon. In this episode, we ask teachers to make sense of the science of reading and what it has to do with the real challenges and real joys in helping youngsters become readers.
00:00 Introduction to the Second Season
Dr. Barbara Stengel 01:24 The “Reading Wars” are back!!
Stengel 04:24 DC teacher Katie Mazenko on complexity and challenge
Mazenko; Stengel 07:42 Is balance bad?? How to get skill, will
and thrill.
Stengel; Sara Abu Rumman, IN public school literacy coach 11:49 A new teacher faces the challenge
Maddie Bernards, 1st grade teacher in CA; Stengel 14:14 What’s developmentally “normal” in reading development?
Stengel; Mazenko; Sarah Ockenhouse, 3rd grade Nashville teacher 19:08 Joy in skill development and watching kids become readers
Stengel; Ockenhouse 21:10 And why test scores don’t reflect actual development?
Stengel; Ockenhouse 22:20 What do reading researchers think? Don’t legislate!
Stengel 23:25 Understanding the value of phonics in learning to read
Stengel; Cara Furman, Hunter College 30:10 Juggling the different needs of youngsters learning to read
Stengel; Furman 33:04 The important of teacher autonomy in teaching reading
Stengel; Krystal Dillard, co-Director, 38:41 Curriculum and materials that encourage reading and readers
Stengel; Dillard 40:54 Structured literacy is back! In a context of external controls
Stengel; Ocheze Joseph, Director of Teacher Education, American University 45:20 (How) Are novice teachers prepared to take this on?
Stengel; Ockenhouse; Bernards 48:50 Can the system shift to make first rate reading instruction possible for all?
Stengel, Bernards; Abu Rumman; 55:01 What motivates the slogan “science of reading”? Maybe money, maybe politics
Stengel; Dillard 56:28 Relationships and teacher judgment in the face of a “manufactured crisis”: the Chasing Bailey touchstone
Stengel
59:16 Join us next time to think about choice as it impacts concrete interactions between teachers and students (and yes, parents too!)
Many thanks to the guests who agreed to inform our thinking for this episode! These include Katelyn Mazenko, Sara Abu Rumman, Maddie Bernards, Dr. Cara Furman, Krystal Dillard, Sarah Ockenhouse, and Dr. Ocheze Joseph.
As usual, there are references to a variety of social, educational and historical news and commentary. You can pursue our sources and find out more about these issues at our website: