Eulexia Tutoring Blog
Look-Say, Whole Language, Balanced Literacy: A Parent's Guide to the Many Names for the Same Flawed Idea
From 'Look-Say' to 'Whole Language' to 'Balanced Literacy,' the names for reading instruction are constantly changing. But what if they are just different masks for the same flawed idea? We uncover the common thread that runs through these methods and explain why a focus on decoding is the only reliable path.
Decoding the Science: What the National Reading Panel Says About Teaching Your Child to Read
Navigating the world of reading instruction can feel overwhelming. How do you know what truly works for your child? Fortunately, a landmark report by the National Reading Panel (NRP) provides clear, evidence-based answers, particularly for phonics. The NRP's most significant finding? Systematic phonics instruction is markedly more effective than non-systematic phonics or approaches with little to no phonics in fostering reading development. This means programs following a planned, sequential introduction of letter-sound relationships, with explicit teaching and practice, lead to better decoding, word recognition, spelling, and even reading comprehension.
Embedded Phonics: Is 'Learning as You Go' Enough for Reading Success?
Is your child's phonics instruction effective? Learn why 'embedded phonics' falls short according to the Science of Reading, and discover what truly systematic, research-backed instruction looks like.