Dick and Jane Learn

Rocket Science
Trudy Stegelman, MS
Learning Disabilities Specialist
Center for Learning Disorders
Topeka, Kansas

Fellow, Orton-Gillingham Academy of

Educators and Practitioners
American Reading
Instruction
Nila Banton Smith

Silver, Burdett and Company

1934, 1962, 1965
At any given time, and particularly during a period of
transition in teaching practices as we are now passing
through, it is not uncommon to find within a single
school different teachers whose procedures exemplify
the outstanding characteristics of several of the more
recent movements. Furthermore, one teacher may be
using some of the techniques and materials
associated with three of four different movements. In
either case it is advantageous that the teacher know
about these movements and that she understand the
one toward which she is primarily tending.

Nila Banton Smith, 1965

 Emphasis of Reading Instruction
in America
Before 1776 Religion
1776-1820 Nationalism
1820-1880 Intelligent citizenship
1880-1910 Reading as a cultural asset
1910-1925 Science and quantification
1925-1935 Research and application
1935-1965 International competition
1965 Present Reading Competency
Aaron, P. and Joshi, R. (1992) The History of Reading Instruction and Reading
Disability Research in America. Reading Problems: Consultation and
Remediation. New York: Guilford Press, 28-54.
 Before 1776
Religion
Purpose: To learn to read the Bible
Method: Alphabetic method
Reciting letter names and
syllables
Learn by spelling words aloud
Materials: Hornbook
Primers, Spelling books
Scripture, Catechism
The New England Primer, 1690
1776-1820: Nationalism
Purpose: To stir patriotic fervor,
promote nationalism
Method: Essentially the same as
earlier; spelling and
memorization of letter names
Materials: Noah Webster 1783-1807
American Spelling Book, a treatise on grammar, history
and geography of the US
First books on pronunciation and
enunciation
1820-1880: Intelligent Citizenship
Purpose: Gaining general knowledge
becoming a good citizen

Methods: Beginning of Reading Wars

Horace Mann Look and Say
Francis Parker Meaning Approach

Materials: McGuffey readers

Published from 1836-1907
Graded readers, drill and limited vocabulary in
earlier readers, later readers emphasized
literature
Forerunner of modern-day basal readers
 The Sentence Method of
Teaching Reading
1881
George Farnham, Superintendant of Schools, New
York
never pay attention to letters
The teacher repeats the story until the children are
familiar with it.
Written story is presented, each sentence is
analyzed into words.
The pupils should develop the ability to look
directly through the written expression to the
meaning.
1880-1910 :
Reading as a Cultural Asset
Purpose: Culture, literature
Methods: Emphasis on meaning; whole-word
and sentence methods
Professional books on
reading first produced
Materials: McGuffey readers
Literature-based reading
Adapted alphabets
The Shearer System, 1894
Initial Teaching Alphabet (ita)
Scientific Alphabet, 1902
1910-1935:
Assessment and Research
Purpose: To provide more scientific information
To determine why so many
individuals were not learning
to read well

Methods:Remedial reading
First used by Uhl in 1916

Materials: Test development

 In spite of the popularity of the meaning-
based methods of teaching beginning
reading during the 1920s and 1930s,
authors of basal readers made provisions in the
textbooks for the teaching of phonics.

For about 3 decades, starting with the

late 1920s, the whole word method and
controlled vocabulary predominated.

Aaron & Joshi (1991)

 1935-1965:
International Competition
Purpose: Need for a educated populace
WWII and Sputnik
Soldiers and college students deficient

Methods: Mostly whole word, some

analytic (workbook) phonics
Materials: Basal readers
Used by 90% of the schools
8 or 9 Publishing companies
 It would seem, at our present state of
knowledge, that a code emphasisone that
combines control of words in spelling
regularly, some direct teaching of letter-sound
correspondences, as well as the use of writing,
tracing or typing produces better results with
unselected groups of beginners than a
meaning emphasis.

Jean Chall (1967) Learning to Read: The Great Debate. (p. 178-179)
1965 Present:
Reading Competency

Purpose: Intense concern over reading

competency

Methods: 1960s and 1970s phonics

Materials: Basal readers, supplemental
materials

Methods: 1980s and 1990s - whole language

Materials: Literature-based curriculum
 Reading Research

Between 1884-1910 34 studies (Smith)

Before 1966 15,000 studies

(National Reading Panel report)

After 1966-present Approximately

100,000 studies
(National Reading Panel report)
 Current Teacher Training

Most teachers of the primary grades take

one course in the teaching of reading.

Some take two, so that the average is

about 1.3 courses per teacher.

Goodlad, 1997
From: Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children, National Research
Council, 1998
 Teaching reading is rocket science!
What do teachers need to know?

The Psychology of Reading and Reading Development

Knowledge of Language Structure and Its Applications

Practical Skills of Instruction in a Comprehensive

Reading Program

Assessment of Classroom Reading and Writing Skills

Moats, L. (1999) Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science: What Expert Teachers of
Reading Should Know and Be Able to Do, American Federation of Teachers.
"I have not failed. Ive just found
10,000 ways that dont work."

Thomas Alva Edison