Educational Methods and the Science of Reading 3

  • Background on Cueing Method

    • Bill Honig discusses how teachers previously believed children could sound out words using cues from context or meaning.
    • Honig has since updated his views based on new research and discussions with cognitive scientists.
    • Emphasizes the need for educators to be open to changing their teaching strategies based on scientific facts.

  • Research Findings

    • Honig reflects on his previous belief that using meaning to code a word was effective for reading instruction.
    • Current research shows this strategy is ineffective and can lead to lifelong slow reading skills.
    • Acknowledges that a significant number of children are negatively impacted due to outdated teaching methods.
    • Expresses optimism that teachers, if informed about scientific findings, would adopt better instructional strategies.

  • The 1996 Educational Landscape

    • In 1996, while addressing California lawmakers, Honig recognized the clarity of reading science supported by numerous studies and literature.
    • Faces resistance from advocates of the queuing method, who had their established approach to reading instruction.
    • Indicates that despite federal funding efforts to reform reading education, there was strong opposition from those invested in traditional methods.

  • Personal Accounts: The Opposition

    • Susan Newman, an education professor in the 90s, recounts conflicts at conferences over teaching methods.
    • Advocated for explicit instruction in reading, claiming early methods were inadequate.
    • Faced backlash from peers but found support from influential figures like George W. Bush and his wife, Laura.

  • Barbara Bush's Advocacy

    • Barbara Bush, who had a personal connection to literacy issues when her son struggled with reading, became active in promoting reading initiatives.
    • Her experience at a reading day where her son couldn't read motivated her to seek out solutions for him and advocate for literacy improvement more broadly.
    • She urged everyone to take literacy personally, highlighting the importance of reading for broader social wellbeing.

  • Takeaway

    • The discussion points towards a historical clash between innovative, research-backed reading instruction and entrenched traditional methodologies.
    • Emphasizes the critical need for educators to adapt to new scientific understandings of reading instruction to benefit students.