Changing the way reading is taught in the state is the focus of Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021, which was filed in the state Senate Monday, March 29.
President Pro Tem of the state Senate Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), one of the bill’s primary sponsors, held a press conference along with North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt on Monday to explain the need for and purpose of the bill.
At the press conference Berger said, “In this bill you’re going to see a lot about what is called the science of reading.”
Berger explained that one of the main points of the science of reading is teaching reading based on phonics.
The bill would use federal coronavirus relief dollars to train preK-5 teachers on the science of reading.
Berger said that along with a focus on phonics, the bill also stresses having individual reading plans for students who are struggling with literacy.
The bill requires the State Board of Education to use the science of reading in developing new instruction standards.
Truitt said, “Early literacy instruction is the guiding force behind why I wanted to run for this position and the work we are doing in the department right now.”
Truitt said that testing data in the state showed that, “Two-thirds of 8th graders do not read proficiently when they enter high school.”
She added that unfortunately that is the average in the United States.
Truitt said that the current method used to teach reading the “look and say” method was not based on research, but that three-fourths of the teachers in the US are currently using some variation of this method.
Truitt said, “The science of reading is not a program it is a body of research that tells us how the brain learns to read. We are hardwired to learn how to speak. We are not hardwired to learn how to read.”
About learning to read, she added, “It is not a visual activity. It is a language activity and that is why we have to get back to a phonics based approach of early literacy instruction.”
Truitt also noted that the state was fully funding training teachers in this method of reading instruction.
How do you use coronavirus relief dollars to teach teachers how to teach reading?
follow the money.
Right. The reason that more of our children graduate with low proficiency in everything is that our schools have become 13-year baby-sitters; the purpose being to keep them off the street, and to get a diploma no matter what. I’ve read about proficiency results in Baltimore city school GRADUATES: GPA of 0.2% on AVERAGE.
How LOW can you GO?
Finally. Older teachers have been trying to get this method back in the schools for years. Unfortunately, the so-called “experts” in school administration have said this is an antiquated method of teaching and is difficult for minority and students who cannot speak English to understand. Well, the data and statistics indicate the current method is a miserable failure. When an 8th grader can only read at a 5th grade level, the methods must change. Our education system is broken. It is no wonder we have so many people who are unemployed at starting level jobs because they are functionally illiterate and cannot add single digit numbers without a calculator because the schools do not teach number facts such as multiplication tables, simple addition, subtraction and fractions. How can anyone survive in today’s world without being able to master simple mathematics and be able to read English. Thank you Mr. Berger.
Well said!!!
Thank goodness…This is what we need. Getting back to BASICS. Thank you Phil Berger.
Uh oh. Science, government and extra money . . What could possibly go wrong???
Me: Why are Little Joey and Susie not in school today? I thought school was back in session.
Mother of Children: Spring Break.
Me: Spring Break? They just had a year of breaks.
Mother: Teachers had vacation plans already in place for this time.
Stop legislating every 5 minutes what and how to teach. That constant change is impossible for even the good teachers to keep up with. Let teachers practice their skill in the most effective way possible. Evaluate them regularly – not for raises or to keep their jobs – but to continually grow their teaching capabilities. Support teachers to attend teaching and learning conferences in the summer months so they can be the best teachers possible.
Phonics works for some. See and say works for others. Sign and say works for others. You need diverse ways to teach all the kids or just accept you’ll be leaving many behind.
The real reason kids can’t read? Lazy parents putting screens and games in front of their kids in stead of reading/telling stories, doing homework together. It’s not the teachers at the schools, they are just trying to correct bad parenting.