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Enlightenment
The Enlightenment era in the 18th century brought a renewed focus on education. Influenced by philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the idea of universal education emerged. Phonics-based instruction gained traction, emphasizing the relationship between sounds and letters.In the 19th century, advancements in psychology and understanding child development influenced reading instruction. -
The 1917 Act
implemented a literacy test that required immigrants over 16 years old to demonstrate basic reading comprehension in any language. It also increased the tax paid by new immigrants upon arrival and allowed immigration officials to exercise more discretion in making decisions over whom to exclude. -
"Why Johnny Cant Read"
Rudolph Flesch’s best-selling book, Why Johnny Can’t Read, urges a return to phonics instruction. In a sharp political and emotional attack, Flesch accuses the whole word approach “of gradually destroying democracy.” -
Jeanne S. Chall
Jeanne S. Chall republishes “Learning to Read: The Great Debate,” with new research findings strengthening the case for phonics. -
National Literacy Act
Barbara Bush earned the title “First Lady of Literacy” when she and President George HW Bush signed to order the National Literacy Act. Still influential today, the National Literacy Act aims “to enhance the literacy and basic skills of adults, to ensure that all adults in the United States acquire the basic skills necessary to function effectively and achieve the greatest possible opportunity in their work and in their lives, and to strengthen and coordinate adult literacy programs.” -
The Most Effective Teaching Approach
What’s the best way to teach literacy to children? The National Reading Panel was formed to answer that very question. They reviewed decades of research and found that the most effective approaches were well-planned, consistent, and clear and incorporated:
* Explicit instruction in phonemic awareness;
* Systematic phonics instruction;
* Methods to improve fluency; and
* Ways to enhance comprehension.
Today, we know that the ideal approach to teach and learn literacy depends on the student.