EVERY teacher, administrator and parent reads this article. For 30 years educators taught kids how to read using “whole language” instead of phonics. Lucy Calkins and friends made over $2 billion dollars selling this garbage to educators. Now 60% of students are functionally illiterate.

Title: The Truth About Reading Education and the Impact of Flawed Teaching Methods

In the realm of education, the foundational skills of reading are critical for student success. However, for the past three decades, a prevalent approach known as “whole language” has dominated classrooms, sidelining proven phonics instruction. This shift has had significant consequences, with recent data revealing that approximately 60% of students are now functionally illiterate.

It’s important to understand how this situation came to be. Influential figures like Lucy Calkins and her colleagues promoted whole language methods, generating over $2 billion in revenue by convincing educators and administrators that this approach was the best way to teach reading. Unfortunately, this financial interest aligned with a misguided pedagogical philosophy, leading to widespread adoption of methods that lack scientific support.

The repercussions are evident: struggling readers, diminished literacy levels, and long-term educational challenges. Rather than placing blame on dedicated teachers, it’s more appropriate to look at the decisions made by education administrators—leaders who were often misled into implementing an ineffective strategy.

There is a positive shift underway. California, for example, is moving toward adopting phonics-based instruction, a change that aligns with decades of research emphasizing its effectiveness. This transition aims to equip students with the foundational decoding skills necessary for literacy and lifelong learning.

For those interested in the complete story behind these educational decisions and their implications, I recommend exploring this detailed report: Sold a Story.

To stay informed about ongoing developments in education policy and literacy initiatives, follow updates from credible sources like CalMatters: California finally adopts phonics.

The journey toward more effective literacy education continues, and understanding this history is vital for advocates, parents, and educators committed to giving all children a solid start in reading.