The Case for Explicit and Systematic Phonics Instruction: A Path to Literacy Success

The Growing Importance of the Science of Reading

In recent years, educators have been getting very vocal about literacy, and explicit phonics instruction has gained significant attention in schools and on social media. Unfortunately, the US ranks as #36 when compared to other country’s literacy levels. This number is concerning to parents, educators, and policymakers. It is time to address the problem head on, and focus on looking for effective, research-backed solutions to improve reading outcomes.

A hot topic recently that has played a major role in this examination of literacy is the “Science of Reading” (SoR). You have likely heard this term, but it is not often explained in a simple way. Basically, SoR is a body of research that highlights how children learn to read, and the best instructional methods to achieve fluent reading. The 2022 podcast Sold a Story by journalist Emily Hanford called out specific curricula that were ineffective and engaged in false advertising. The podcast series prompted a national conversations and many social media influencers to spread the word about the urgent need for change.

There is no denying that were are in a reading crisis. It is crucial to understand why explicit and systematic phonics instruction is the most effective approach and how we can implement it in classrooms and homes nationwide.

What is the Science of Reading?

The Science of Reading is basically a compilation of all the best research about how our brains learn to read. It even goes into detail about how different types of brains learn to read. The overwhelming majority of research about reading shows that it is not an innate skill, but a learned process that requires explicit, systematic instruction. In fact, 95% of children are capable of learning to read, and only about 5% of children are able to teach themselves. The other 85% of children greatly benefit from explicit phonics instruction.

The Science of Reading backs the importance of using explicit and systematic instructional approaches when teaching reading. Unfortunately, these methods are not what has been the most prominent form of education in the US over the past 20 or so years.

How It Differs from Traditional Teaching Methods

Traditional reading instruction varies from school to school and teacher to teacher. Teacher education programs also varied across universities, but many taught strategies such as the “three cueing system”, or whole languages approached. In these teaching models, students are encouraged to guess word based on pictures, make predictions about what could come next in a story based on their imaginations, or try to guess words by reading the first few letters only. Since these methods do not focus on systematic decoding, it is not surprising that they are ineffective. Research definitively demonstrates that students - especially those with dyslexia and other reading difficulties - need explicit, systematic, sequential phonics instruction to develop good decoding and fluency skills.

Comparatively, explicit and systematic instruction teaches reading and spelling in a structured way. Instead of catering to the 40% of students that will learn to read regardless of what methods are used, this type of instruction ensures that all students receive the tools they need to succeed.

Explicit and Systematic Instruction vs. Implicit Instruction

Systematic Instruction: A Structured Path to Literacy

Explicit and systematic phonics instruction has a few important defining characteristics:

• Letters and sounds are taught in a logical progression
• Students learn to decode words based on phonics rules
• Spelling rules and patterns are explicitly explained
• Multisensory techniques are used reinforce concepts and make learning more effective

"Explicit, systematic phonics instruction is essential for some, helpful for all, and harmful to none." - Snowling, Hulme, Snow & Juel

Most importantly, systematic instruction is backed by literature. In general, nearly every study about the types of instruction that are most effective for students indicate that systematic phonics instruction is the top model for improving decoding, accurate reading, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.

Whole-Language or Implicit Instruction: Why It Falls Short

Implicit phonics instruction, or whole language approaches, assume children will "pick up" reading skills through exposure. Instead of direct teaching, it relies on:

• Context clues, pictures, and guesswork
• Learning letter-sound relationships through exposure
• A lack of structured progression, or a limited defined plan for what comes next
• Significantly less direct instruction about phonic rules

For students with reading difficulties, English language learners, or students from lower-income areas, these types of instruction are extremely detrimental and significantly less effective.

The Literacy Crisis: Why Change is Urgent

So what does this mean for our country?

• In 2019, only 33% of U.S. fourth graders were proficient in reading (NAEP, 2019).
• Third grade students who continue to struggle with reading are four times more likely to drop out of high school (Hernandez, 2011).
• Low literacy levels among children and adults costs the U.S. economy $2.2 trillion annually in lost productivity and increased social services (Barbara Bush Foundation, 2020).

The data is there, why are we not paying attention to it?

• Resistance to change among educators trained in traditional methods
• Lack of adequate funding for neighborhood public schools
• Commercial interests from publishers pushing ineffective reading programs

The Solution: Embracing Explicit Phonics Instruction

How It Benefits All Learners

Explicit phonics instruction helps:

• Struggling readers by providing clear, step-by-step guidance.
• Students with learning disabilities, including dyslexia, by reinforcing phonemic awareness and decoding skills.
• Advanced learners by strengthening their foundational literacy skills, leading to improved fluency and comprehension.

The Importance of Multisensory Learning

Want to know the best way to make learning more effective? Multisensory instruction, which engages multiple pathways in the brain. Strategies include:

• Tactile learning: Tracing letters in sand or on textured surfaces, or tapping sounds on fingers, arms, or tables.
• Auditory reinforcement: Saying letter sounds aloud while writing them.
• Kinesthetic movement: Using arm or hand motions to indicate different phonemes or divide syllables in words.

Multisensory learning has been shown to significantly boost retention and engagement in learning, which is why it in an integral component of explicit phonics instruction.

Key Strategies for Implementing Effective Phonics Instruction

Explicit phonics instruction helps:

1. Start with Phonemic Awareness: Teach students to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken words before introducing letter-sound relationships. An example would be to ask your child to say the word “cat” without the “C” sound.
2. Teach in a Sequential Order: Start teaching simple letter-sound correspondences before moving to more complex rules. Be sure to teach short vowel sounds first to mastery before moving into other syllable types.
3. Provide Ample Practice: Use decodable texts and word-building activities to reinforce new concepts. Make sure that you are using a decodable text that is actually decodable and only uses words the child has been explicitly taught to read. A great series we recommend are “Right Start Readers” which can be purchased at RightStartReaders.com
4. Integrate Spelling and Writing: Encourage students to apply phonics rules in their writing by sounding out words, and even spelling things incorrectly at times - as long as it is considered phonetically correct. An example of phonetic spelling would be the word “was” being spelled “wuz”.
5. Monitor Progress and Provide Support: Schools should implement early screeners to identify students who need more support as early as possible, and continue to monitor progress through the year.

How LD Expert Can Help

If you just feel like your child needs more support, we are here to help! At LD Expert, we provide the services needed for your child to reach their full academic potential. Our services include:

• Online dyslexia therapy and tutoring: Individualized support for students with reading difficulties with or without diagnoses.
• Academic tutoring: Traditional academic tutoring and homework help.
• Resources for parents: Strategies and materials to support learning at home.

By partnering with educators and families, LD Expert is committed to improving literacy outcomes for all children. Literacy is our jam, and we are here to spread it!

Conclusion: The Time for Change is Now

We are in a literacy crisis, and we already have the solution! The time to implement explicit phonics programs is now. Schools, educators, and parents must work together to advocate for systematic and research-based reading instruction. Contact your campus principal, go to school board meetings, and even reach out to your local and state representatives. We have all the evidence we need to solve the literacy crisis, and the time to act is now.

Ready to support your child's reading journey? Schedule a consultation at LD Expert today! 🔥

You can also make a difference by getting to know your child’s teacher, and asking them what they could use in their classroom to support their instruction. Teachers are always grateful for donations to their classroom. You can purchase decodable readers or activities for students that are backed by the principals in the Science of Reading. This will have a greater benefit for your child and the community as a whole!