There's an idea about how children learn to read that's held sway in schools for more than a generation — even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. Teaching methods based on this idea can make it harder for children to learn how to read. In this new podcast, host Emily Hanford investigates the influential authors who promote this idea and the company that sells their work. It's an expose of how educators came to believe in something that isn't true and are now reckoning with the consequences — children harmed, money wasted, an education system upended.

This is an 8 part series about reading education in the U.S. I’m not sure I can summarize it better than the official summary at the link so pasting it here:

There’s an idea about how children learn to read that’s held sway in schools for more than a generation — even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. Teaching methods based on this idea can make it harder for children to learn how to read. In this podcast, host Emily Hanford investigates the influential authors who promote this idea and the company that sells their work. It’s an exposé of how educators came to believe in something that isn’t true and are now reckoning with the consequences — children harmed, money wasted, an education system upended

So far I’m about halfway through episode 5. I think people here will be able to predict in many ways how the story goes. Definitely something I think is important and wasn’t aware of (I know that literacy is overall not great in this country, but it’s interesting to learn that there is an additional reason besides inequality and low investment in education).

  • jjjalljsEnglish
    15·
    3 months ago

    Well this was depressing. I’m glad they have transcripts because I prefer reading over listening, which felt either very something for this topic. Only 2 episodes in so far though.

    I asked my friend who has a toddler and she said they’re teaching the kid to read well. One of the parents is a professor editor so there’s a lot of literacy in that house.

    • EatPotatoes [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
      8·
      3 months ago

      The reality everything has to be a podcast, audiobook or video to get some engagement is probably connected to illiteracy at some level. Fine they can read a GUI and parrot internet speech but it’s terrifying if most meaning is being lost behind it.